We have summarized some interesting facts about Cape Verde for you. It is nice to know more about the Cape Verde islands. And if you are traveling to Cape Verde it is also convenient being already a little bit prepared.
- In 1975 Cape Verde became independent from Portugal. In ancient times it was one country with Guinea Bissau (mainland West Africa). The unofficial slogan of the population is “no stress”.
- A new flag and anthem was introduced in 1992.
- Some negotiations during the South African anti-apartheid struggle (ANC and government South Africa) took place in Cape Verde.
- Cape Verde is part of the Macaronesia islands along with the Canaries and the Azores.
- The Cape Verde Islands are a kind of end of the Sahara dessert. This desert on the mainland of Africa brings some sand to certain parts of Cape Verde via the wind. Desert sand on the island of Boavista is partly the result.
- The population of Cape Verde is a mix of Portuguese and African background.
- The football team from Cape Verde is also called the “blue sharks.”
- Most Cape Verdeans living abroad. In America alone, there are more than 350,000 Cape Verdeans. And a high density of the Cape Verde community is living in the Netherlands. More than 30,000, mostly living in Rotterdam and surroundings of the Netherlands.
- More than the half of the population of Cape Verde is living on the island of Santiago.
- Ethnicities in Cape Verde are 71% Creole, 28% African and 1% European.
- Many of the Cape Verde islands are, just like Hawaii, of volcanic rocks. The last volcanic eruption was at the end of 2014 / beginning of 2015 on the island of Fogo.
- Santa Luzia, Raso and Branco are the smallest islands of the archipelago, but are uninhabited. The smallest inhabited island is Brava.
- Natural resources and good agricultural land are limited on the islands. Nevertheless, the country is one of the most political and economically stable countries in Africa.
- Ribeira Grande on Santiago is the original capital of the archipelago. This was also the first European city in the tropics. Nowadays Praia is the capital of Cape Verde.
- Climate change have a major impact on the archipelago by the limited presence of water and the dry areas.
- 90% of food is imported. Limited production from agriculture (one tenth of the land is suitable) and the geographical location with regard to the continent of Africa ensures that most food is from abroad.
- Cape Verde is one of the driest areas of the world.
- The name of the island of Sal means “salt”; Boavista means “good view”; Maio means ‘May’; Fogo means ‘fire’, and Brava means ‘wild’.
- The Cape Verdean Creole and Papiamento language, which is also spoken on the Netherlands Antilles, is strongly related to each other. Speakers of both languages will be able to understand each other.
- Cape Verde is mainly Roman Catholic infused with indigenous beliefs and Protestant.
- The Estrada a Corda is the most beautiful road / route and consists of more than 15 million cobble stones.
- Charles Darwin studied flora and fauna in Cape Verde in 1832.
- There is one goat for every two people on the islands.
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