Geography of Cape Verde

Cape Verde is a group of arid Atlantic islands. These islands are special because they have unique plants, birds, and reptiles that live only there. The geography of Cape Verde helps shape the lives of the people who live there and the animals and plants that call the islands home. Understanding the geography of Cape Verde lets us see how the land, water, and living things work together in this interesting part of the world.

Location and description

The Cape Verde Islands are found in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 450 km (280 mi) off the west coast of Africa. The islands have different landscapes, from dry plains to high, active volcanoes with steep cliffs rising from the ocean. The climate is dry, and the total land area is 4,033 km² (1,557 mi²).

The island group has ten islands and five smaller ones, split into two groups: the windward (Barlavento) and leeward (Sotavento) islands. The six windward islands include Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista. The four leeward islands are Brava, Fogo, Santiago, and Maio. Some islands are rocky and volcanic, while others are flat and desert-like. Strong winds have caused sand to move and erode the land on all the islands.

List of islands

Data

Cape Verde is a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It covers a total area of 4,072 km², all of which is land with almost no water. The islands are about 1.5 times the size of Luxembourg.

The coastline stretches for 965 km (600 mi). The islands have a steep, rugged, and rocky landscape, formed by volcanic activity. The lowest point is at sea level in the Atlantic Ocean, and the highest point is Mount Fogo, a volcano that reaches 2,829 m (9,281 ft) on Fogo Island.

The islands face natural challenges such as long droughts and dusty winds. They are also in an area that is active for volcanoes and earthquakes. Cape Verde is strategically located near major sea routes, making it important for communication and refueling.

Borders

Cabo Verde shares water borders with Mauritania and Senegal. Cabo Verde has signed agreements with these countries to set the borders, but the agreements sometimes disagree on exact lines. Because of its many islands, Cabo Verde has a large area of water for fishing and other uses, covering 800,561 km² (309,098 mi²).

Climate

Rainfall in Cape Verde is unpredictable, sometimes leading to droughts and food shortages. Today, special water-making machines help give water to many people. Scientists have tried using special devices to catch mist from the air since 1962, but these have only been used in one place so far.

The islands usually have sunny days all year, especially between February and June. Sometimes, winds from the Sahara Desert bring dust and clouds, but this doesn’t happen all the time.

Cape Verde’s oceans are where some of the strongest hurricanes in the Atlantic start. These storms get their power from the warm waters and can become very intense. Although they often form near the islands, they usually move away before reaching land.

The islands can be very dry, but some higher mountains catch more moisture from the air, creating cooler, rainier spots. These areas often have more plants and trees because of the extra water.

Forests

In Cabo Verde, forests cover about 11% of the land. This equals to 45,720 hectares in 2020, which is more than in 1990. Some of these forests grow naturally, while others are planted by people. All of these forests are owned by the public. The islands are part of a special area called the Cape Verde Islands dry forests, recognized by the World Wildlife Fund.

Flora

Main article: Flora of Cape Verde

Cape Verde is a very dry group of islands, located near Africa. Originally, these islands had lots of grasses and dry forests, but most of these were cleared to make space for farming. Today, the islands have different types of plants depending on how high and rainy the area is. Some higher, wetter areas still have special kinds of forests that are found only in a few places in the world. These forests have unique trees and plants that grow nowhere else. Sadly, many of the original forests have disappeared because of farming and cutting down trees for wood.

Fauna

Cape Verde has many special animals that live only there. You can find four unique bird types, like the Raso lark, along with swifts, larks, warblers, and sparrows. The islands are a key place for seabirds to lay eggs, including the Cape Verde shearwater and Fea's petrel, which only nests here and in Madeira. On Santiago Island, there is the only place where the rare Bourne's heron lays its eggs.

There are also 11 reptiles that are found only on these islands, such as a large gecko called the Tarentola gigas. You can see many other geckos and skinks too. One big skink, called the Macroscincus coctei, is no longer thought to exist.

Threats and protection

Most of the natural environment in Cape Verde has been lost because of farming, cutting trees for wood, and natural soil loss. This has put some birds and reptiles in danger. The few remaining forests are found only in high places. New problems include taking sand from beaches without permission and catching too many fish. Birds that lay eggs on the ground are also at risk because of animals like cats and rats that were brought to the islands.

Environment - international agreements

• Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Extreme points

Cape Verde has several extreme points that show its size and shape. The northernmost point is Ponta do Sol on Santao Antão Island. The southernmost point is Ponta Nho Martinho on Brava. The westernmost point is Ponta Chao de Mongrade on Santao Antão, which is also the westernmost point of Africa. The easternmost point is Ponta Meringuel on Boa Vista.