s money laundering because of its mature financial services
sector

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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@Cape Verde

Introduction Cape Verde

Background:
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the
Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a
trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and
resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following
independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with
Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained
until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues
to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments.
Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused
significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result,
Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.
Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Geography Cape Verde

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
water: 0 sq km
land: 4,033 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
contiguous zone: 24 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: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Natural resources:
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish

Land use:
arable land: 9.68%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 89.82% (2001)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring
dust; volcanically and seismically active

Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in
deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened
several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand
extraction; overfishing

Environment - int