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Concept
Geography of Cape Verde
Summary
Cape Verde (formally, the Republic of Cabo Verde) is a group of arid Atlantic islands which are home to distinct communities of plants, birds, and reptiles. The islands constitute the unique Cape Verde Islands dry forests ecoregion, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
The Cape Verde Islands are located in the mid-Atlantic Ocean some off the west coast of the continent of Africa. The landscape varies from dry plains to high active volcanoes with cliffs rising steeply from the ocean. The climate is arid. The total size is .
The archipelago consists of ten islands and five islets, divided into the windward (Barlavento) and leeward (Sotavento) groups. The six islands in the Barlavento group are Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista. The islands in the Sotavento group are Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava. All but Santa Luzia are inhabited.
Three islands – Sal, Boa Vista, and Maio – generally are level and lack natural water supplies. Mountains higher than are found on Santiago, Fogo, Santo Antão, and São Nicolau.
Sand carried by strong winds has caused erosion on all islands, especially the windward ones. Sheer, jagged cliffs rise from the sea on several of the mountainous islands. The lack of natural vegetation in the uplands and coast also contributes to soil erosion. The interior valleys support denser natural vegetation.
Geographic coordinates
Area
Total: 4,072 km2
Land: 4,072 km2
Water: 0 km2 (inland water is negligible)
Area – comparativeAbout 1.5 times as large as Luxembourg
Coastline
Maritime claims
Measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Territorial sea:
Contiguous zone:
Exclusive economic zone:
Exclusive economic zone
EEZ area:
Continental shelf: 5,591 km2
Coral reefs: 0.09% of world
Sea mounts: 0.04% of world
TerrainSteep, rugged, rocky, volcanic.
Elevation extremes
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Mount Fogo (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resourcesSalt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use
agricultural land: 18.6% (2018 est.
Official source
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