Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde’s history is shaped by Atlantic winds, Portuguese exploration, African heritage, and a modern identity built on migration, music, and maritime spirit. The islands were uninhabited until the 15th century, when Portuguese sailors arrived and established settlements that became key hubs in Atlantic trade.
Over centuries, African, European, and Creole influences blended into a distinct cultural identity. The archipelago played a major role in trans‑Atlantic commerce, whaling, and later global migration networks. Cabo Verde gained independence in 1975, becoming one of Africa’s most stable democracies.
Today, the nation is known for its music — especially morna and coladeira — its diaspora, and its volcanic, windswept landscapes rising from the Atlantic.
Geographic Keys
Cabo Verde is a volcanic archipelago of ten islands off the West African coast.
Location: Central Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Area: 4,033 sq km — “about the size of Rhode Island”
Coastline: 965 km
Highest point: Pico do Fogo at 2,829 m (active volcano)
Climate: Arid to semi‑arid; mild temperatures year‑round
