Location Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Geographic coordinates 16 00 N, 24 00 W

Map references World

Area
total: 4,030 sq km
land: 4,030 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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 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: Pico 2,829 m

Natural resources salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish

Land use
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 83% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 30 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active

Environment - current issues overgrazing of livestock and improper land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; overfishing

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
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

NOTE: The information regarding Cape Verde on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Cape Verde Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Cape Verde Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.