About Cape Verde

cape verde - Geography

«Located 455 km from the African coast, the islands of Cape Verde extend for about 4033 km2 and were formed by the accumulation of rocks, resulting from eruptions on the submarine platforms. The archipelago has, in a general way, an imposing and majestatic aspect. Some islands are arid, but in others the vegetation is lush, tropical. The relief of most of the islands is bumpy, with altitudes that surpass the thousand meters in some islands, reaching even 2,882 meters in the island of Fogo.

The three easternmost islands have a flatter relief and a more arid climate because they are exposed to the dry and hot winds of the Sahara. The coasts are characterized by the contrasts between the high and abrupt cliffs falling steeply over the sea and the vast beaches of fine sand.» (Source: Cape Verde Government website)

The islands of Cape Verde have a privileged geographic location, positioning itself between the 3 continents - Africa, Europe and America. Its is located 455 km off the coast of Senegal and a three hour flight from America and Europe.

CAPE VERDE - HISTORY

«The islands of Cape Verde were discovered by Portuguese navigators in May 1460, with no evidence of previous human presence. Santiago was the most favorable island for the occupation and thus the settlement begins there in 1462.

Given its strategic position, on the routes linking Europe, Africa and Brazil, the islands served as a commercial and supply warehouse, with a particular emphasis on slave traffic. Soon, the archipelago became a center of concentration and dispersion of men, plants and animals.

With the abolition of the slave trade and the constant deterioration of climatic conditions, Cape Verde fell into decay and began to live on the basis of a poor, subsistence economy.

Free Europeans and slaves from the African coast merged into one people, the Cape Verdean, with a way of being and living very much of its own and Creole emerged as the language of the largely mestizo community.

In 1956 Amílcar Cabral created the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), fighting against colonialism and initiating a march for independence. On 19 December 1974 an agreement was signed between PAIGC and Portugal, establishing a transitional government in Cape Verde. This same Government prepared the elections for a Popular National Assembly that on 5 July 1975 proclaimed independence.

Cultural demarcation with Portugal and the spread of nationalist ideas led to the independence of the archipelago in July 1975.

In 1991, following the first multiparty elections held in the country, a parliamentary democracy was instituted with all the institutions of a modern democracy. Today, Cape Verde is a country with social stability and peace, so it enjoys credit with governments, companies and international financial institutions.» (Source: Cape Verde Government' website)

cape verde - Climate

«The climate of the most rugged islands is varied and with some rainfall. It is tempered thanks to the moderating action that the ocean and the alísios winds exert on the temperature, and the annual averages rarely rise above 25ºC, never descending below 20ºC. The temperature of the sea water varies between 21ºC in February and March and 25ºC in September and October. The climatic stability of Cape Verde guarantees the possibility of touring all year round.» (Source: Cape Verde Government website)

Climate - Dry-tropical with two seasons:

• Dry season: December till July, more windy weather

• Raining season: August till October

cape verde - Population

«In Cape Verde, the annual rate of population growth and mortality is low, compared to the average rates of other middle-income countries. The average life expectancy is 62 and 65 years, respectively for men and women.

The resident population in the country is 491,875 inhabitants (in 2010), being a young population with a mean age of 23 years. The lack of natural resources and the scarce rains in the archipelago determined the departure of many Cape Verdeans abroad. Currently the emigrated Cape Verdean population is larger than the one living in Cape Verde.» (Source: Cape Verde Government website)

CAPE VERDE WEBSITES

• Cape Verde Government Portal >>
• INE - National Institute of Statistics >>
• University of Cape Verde >>
• Cape Verde National Municipal Association >>
• Cape Verde National Assembly (Parliament) >>
• President of the Republic >>
• National Electoral Commission >>
• Electoral results (7 local government elections, 1991-2016) >>
• Municipality of Tarrafal >>
• Municipality of Santa Catarina >>
• Municipality of Santa Cruz >>
• Municipality of Praia >>
• Municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago ('Cidade Velha') >>
• Protected Areas in Cape Verde >>
• IDE-CV Infra-estrutura de Dados Espaciais de Cabo Verde (Cape Verde Spatial Data Infrastructure) >>
• IDE-CV Cape Verde Spatial Data Visualization Tool >>
• E-Government in Cape Verde (NOSI - Núcleo Operacional da Sociedade de informação) >>