At the
cross-road of the three continents that border the Atlantic,
there is an obligatory stop in the middle of the ocean, the
Archipelago of Cape Verde (or Cabo Verde).
Located 450 km off the coast of Senegal, it is composed of 10 islands
and 8 islets. Of volcanic origin and positioned between parallels 15 and
17 of the North latitude, Cape Verde is made up of two distinctly
different types of islands. Its six inhabited
islands, located more to the West, are characterised by their
mountainous landscapes, whereas the remaining three are distinguished by
their long sandy beaches.The uninhabited islands were discovered and
colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently
became a trading center for African slaves. Most Cape Verdeans descend
from both groups. Independence was achieved in 1975.
Each island on Cape Verde has something
of interest, but by and large the pace of life is slow. Santiago, for
instance, is very African and it's here that the majority of black
people live. The town of Mindelo (S Vicente) is very reminiscent of a
deserted Portuguese provincial town. The small bars in and around the
harbour have their own special atmosphere and are well worth a visit.
Because of the rocky coastline there are only a few beaches
The islands are divided into two groups named according to the trade
windsthat reach them from the African Continent: windward and
leeward.The first group consists of the islands of
Santo Antão, S.Vicente, Santa Luzia (disabitata),
S.Nicolau, Sal, Boavista, and the second, more to the South,
comprises the islands of Maio, Santiago, Fogo
and Brava. The sun spreads its warmth the whole year round,
soothed by the fresh seabreeze. The climate is tropical and dry.The
average temperature is approximately 25°C and changes do not exceed10°C.
With vast beaches that allow for all types of water sports, impressive
mountains, high quality fish, various types of delicious seafood and the
melodious deauty of its music all distinguish Cape Verde as an exciting
tourist destination.
Where politics are, the country is known for its stability and absence
of any type of conflict. Because it is strongly influenced by Western
culture, the people are mainly Christian and the majority of these are
Catholic.
With a total land area of 4,033 km Cape Verde is one of the five
Atlantic Archipelagos of the Macaronésia.The others are Azores, Madeira,
the Canary Islands and the Savage Isles.
