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Cape Verde Islands of Departure
An archipelago, or group of islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, the republic of Cape Verde is 385 miles (620 kilometers) off the western coast of Africa. There are ten islands and five rocky islets devided into the Barlavento, or Windward, and Sotavento, or Leeward groups. The archipelago has a total land area of 1,577 square miles (4,033 square kilometers). After 500 years of Portuguese colonial rule, Cape Verde became an independent nation on July 5,1995. It’s capital is Praia
The Windward Islands consist of Santo Antao, Sao Vecente, Santa Luzia, Sao
Nicolau, Boa Vista, and Sal, together with the islets of Raso and Branco.
The Leward Islands include Maio, Sao Tiago, Fogo, and Brava, and the three
islets called the Rombos. They are Grande, Luis Carneiro, and Cima. The
islands’ largest port is Mindelo, or Porto Grande, on Sao Vicente.
It’s deepwater harbor serves vessels of any size and is used primarily
as a fueling station. Cape Verde’s first settlers came from Portugal and landed on Sao Tiago
in 1462. The importance and wealth of the islands increased with the development
of the transatlantic slave trade. In the early 1800s there was drought and
famine along with government corruption and poor administration. In 1951
the islands’ status was changed from that of a Portuguese colony to
an overseas province, and on July 5, 1975, the islands became an independent
republic. Cape Verde Islands Overview and History
or for Fogo information and pictures Fogo
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