| Geography | Cape Verde |
 = Fields  = World Records  = Dictionary  = Bar graph  = Distribution map  = Fields History  = Definitions |
|
|
|
|
|
Location:
|
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal |
Geographic coordinates:
|
16 00 N, 24 00 W |
Map references:
|
Political Map of the World |
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, clay, gypsum |
Land use:
|
arable land: 11.41%
permanent crops: 0.74%
other: 87.85% (2005) |
Irrigated land:
|
30 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources:
|
0.3 cu km (1990) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
|
Total: 0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)
Per capita: 39 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards:
|
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active |
Environment - current issues:
|
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing |
Environment - international agreements:
|
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
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 |
|
= Fields = World Records = Dictionary = Bar graph = Distribution map = Fields History = Definitions |
|
Home 
Geographic Names
Chiefs of State
Intl. Organizations
Intl. Environmental Agree.
Other References
