GeoFroggy

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Background

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cabo Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cabo Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cabo Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cabo Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Location

Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Area Comparative

Slightly larger than Rhode Island

Climate

Measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural Hazards

48.57 cu m/yr (2004)

Environment Current Issues

Prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active volcanism: Fogo (elev. 2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cabo Verde's only active volcano

Environment International Agreements

party to: Soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing

signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Geography Note

none of the selected agreements

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

Africa

Irrigated Land

87.59% (2011)

Area 2014

total

4,033 sq km
land

4,033 sq km
water

0 sq km

Coastline

965 km

Geographical Coordinates

16 00 N, 24 00 W

Land use 2014

Arable Land
salt,
Permanent Crops
11.66%
Other
0.74%

Terrain

Temperate; warm
Dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic

Land Boundaries

0 km

Natural Resources

Mt. Fogo 2

829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Cabo Verde