Cape Verde Islands

The Cape Verde Islands

The Republic of Cape Verde, or Cape Verdean Islands, is an archipelago of 10 large and 8 small islands located in the Atlantic Ocean, 350 miles off the west coast of Africa.
For centuries the archipelago was a Portuguese colony, but the state gained independence in 1974.

The islands are conventionally divided into the Leeward group (Santo Antão, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Sal, Boavista) and the Leeward group (Santiago, Brava, Fogo, Mayo). The group of small islands includes Branco, Razu, Grandi, Luis Carneiro, Santa Maria, Zapadu, Sima, Du Rei.

The climate is mild, with an average annual temperature of around 25C. There is not a lot of precipitation. The water temperature ranges from +21C in February up to +26C in August – October.

The relief of islands is mountainous, covered with set of volcanoes, both extinct, and acting. The highest – Fogu – is located on the island of the same name and has a height of 2829 meters. Each island has its own natural uniqueness, but despite its name, the archipelago often looks more like a rocky lunar landscape.

The islands of Cape Verde attract yachtsmen, kiters and windsurfers from all over the world because the wind always blows here. From late November to early March, the dry, dusty Harmattan, a West African trade wind, blows from the Sahara.

The high, rocky coastline makes natural harbors hard to reach, which, combined with the deep water and ocean swell, makes anchoring nearly impossible. There are also few marinas, the largest being on the island of San Vicente.

There are two international airports on the islands of Sal and Santiago, through which the main air services are available, but there are also several local ones for flights between the islands.

The Cape Verde Islands wind and weather forecast

Cape Verde weather

The Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 large and 8 small islands located in the Atlantic Ocean, 350 miles off the west coast of Africa. The climate is mild, with an average annual temperature of around 25C. There is not a lot of precipitation. The water temperature ranges from +21C in February up to +26C in August - October. The relief of islands is mountainous, covered with set of volcanoes, both extinct, and acting.

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