The Republic of Cape Verde is an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, 375 miles off the western coast of Africa.
Cape Verde is composed of ten islands, of which nine are inhabited, and eight islets. The islands are divided into the Barlavento or windward islands: Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista. And the Sotavento or leeward islands: Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava.The largest island, both in size and population, is Santiago, where the capital of Praia is located.
Though Cape Verde's islands are all volcanic in origin, they vary widely in terrain. A still-active volcano on the island of Fogo is the highest point on the archipelago at an elevation 2,829 meters.Extensive salt flats can be found on Sal and Maio. On Santiago, Santo Antão, and São Nicolau, arid, rocky slopes give way at higher elavations to sugarcane fields and banana plantations.
Cape Verde has few natural resources and suffers from scant rainfall and limited fresh water. Only 4 of the 10 main islands: Santiago, Santo Antão, Fogo, and Brava have significant agricultural production, and over 90% of all food consumed in Cape Verde is imported.
Boa Vista, Sal and Praia have international airports. Smaller airports exist on all of the inhabited islands.
The major ports are Mindelo and Praia, but all other islands have smaller port facilities.
Cape Verde's official language is Portuguese. However, the Cape Verdean Creole is the mother tongue of virtually all Cape Verdeans.
History
The previously uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century. In 1462, Portuguese settlers arrived at Santiago and founded Ribeira Grande, which is today known as Cidade Velha, the first permanent European settlement city in the tropics. They named the islands Cabo Verde, after the nearby Cap Vert on the Senegalese coast.
In the 16th century, the Cape Verdes prospered from the transatlantic slave trade.Pirates occasionally attacked the Portuguese settlements and Sir Francis Drake sacked Ribeira Grande in 1585. After a French attack in 1712, the city declined in importance relative to Praia, which became the capital in 1770.
With the decline in the slave trade, Cape Verde's early prosperity slowly vanished. However, the islands' position astride mid-Atlantic shipping lanes made Cape Verde an ideal location for re-supplying ships. Because of its excellent harbour, Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, became an important commercial centre during the 19th century.
The Republic of Cape Verde attained independence from Portugal in 1975.
Weather
Because the archipelago is surrounded by the sea Cape Verde's climate is milder than that of mainland Africa. Average daily high temperatures range from 25°C in January to 29°C in September. Most of the rainfall occurs between August and October, with frequent brief but heavy downpours.
Click on the following link for detailed Cape Verdes Weather
Food and Drink
The local cusine is mostly based on fish and staple foods like corn and rice. Vegetables available during most of the year are potatoes, onions, tomatoes, manioc, cabbage, kale, and dried beans. Fruits like banana and papayas are available year-round, while others like mangoes and avocados are seasonal. A popular dish served in Cape Verde is Cachupa.
Detailed reports on the Harbours and Anchorages of Cape Verde can be viewed in our Cruising Guide
