List of islands of Cape Verde
The Cape Verde Islands, also briefly Cape Verde is an archipelago in the Atlantic. They are located about 570 kilometers off the west coast of Africa. Since 1975 the area of the islands is the independent island republic of Cape Verde.
Geography
The Cape Verde Islands are divided as follows:
The assembled about 15 islands group is counting on the African plate, is of volcanic origin and was discovered in 1445 by Portuguese sailors. Nine of the islands are inhabited today - on the island of Santiago is located in the southern group of Cape Verde Praia, the capital of the Republic of Cape Verde.
Situated in the north-west islands are of recent origin and hochgebirgig, with the 2829 meter high Pico de Fogo as the highest elevation. Situated in the southern islands are older and worn down to a few rocky elevations. Islands such as Sal, Boavista and Maio white sand beaches of angewehtem Sahara sand, on the uninhabited islands such as the Ilhéu Raso and Branco Ilhéu drop the coasts as some very steep cliffs from the sea.
Climate
The Cape Verde islands are geographically to the Sahel region, a savanna landscape, and are distinguished by a warm, oceanic basic climate with small temperature differences between summer and winter from. The rainfall is low throughout the year, a short rainy season, from August to October - but also in these months, more than two to three days of rain per month will be rare. The temperature difference between day and night is low, rarely are more than five degrees centigrade.
Flora and Fauna
The dry climate of the Cape Verde islands requires a little species-rich, semi- arid vegetation. The northern and western islands are partially covered with grasslands on the southern islands can be partly mangrove swamps found; Moreover, some palm species are native to the Cape Verde islands, which are adapted to the severe drought.
Only a few species are native to the Cape Verde islands, most notably seabirds. The Raso Lark (Alauda razae ) is endemic to the only 7 km ² Ilhéu Raso and therefore one of the birds with the smallest distribution areas. The stock was estimated in 2001 to 130 birds. In addition, some reptiles such as geckos and skinks Cape Verde, including Tarentola gigas, the Cape Verde Giant Gecko and Skink Mabuya stangeri inhabit. The Ilhéu Raso and Branco were Ilhéu until the beginning of the 20th century the only habitat of the Cape Verde Riesenskinks; this lizard is now considered extinct.
Many sea birds use the island's cliffs as nesting sites.
Species rich than on land are under water flora and fauna. From March to May cross the Atlantic humpback whales from the Cape Verde Islands, from July to November manta rays and whale sharks can be spotted. Year-round live sharks in and around the coral reefs. The sea around the Cape Verde Islands is not yet overfished, so the reefs are home to numerous species of fish and marine life. From July to October also go sea turtles on the island of Boa Vista ashore to lay their eggs.
History
On the history of the Cape Verde Islands and the Republic of Cape Verde, see the article History of Cape Verde.
Tourism
The Cape Verde islands are so far not yet become a destination for mass tourism. Tourist attractions are mainly the islands of Sal, has to offer filled with warm salt water salt pans, with the capital Santiago and Boavista Praia, where plays an essential part of nightlife. Also popular are the Cape Verde Islands, especially for divers visiting the archipelago because of the species-rich underwater landscape. For the mass tourism there is a severe lack of reliable infrastructure and safe flight and ferry connections between the nine inhabited islands.
Attractions
- Salt pans on the island of Sal
- Pedro de Lume crater on the island of Sal
- Boavista, Sal next to the tourist center of the Cape Verde Islands
- From July to October, sea turtles on the island of Boa Vista
- Praia, the capital of the island nation of Cape Verde, on the largest island of Santiago