Cape Verde Geography
LocationWestern Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Area
total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
965 km
Maritime claims
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish
Land use
arable land: 9.68%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 89.82% (2001)
Irrigated land
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues
soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
