Cape Verde:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Cape Verde:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape 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. Cape 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, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Location	Definition Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates	Definition 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references	Definition Political Map of the World
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 965 km
Maritime claims	Definition measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate	Definition temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain	Definition steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources	Definition salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 11.41% permanent crops: 0.74% other: 87.85% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 0.3 cu km (1990)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%) per capita: 39 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues	Definition 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
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	Definition strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site

Cape Verde: Geography

Cape Verde:
Geography