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Cabo Verde, an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands off West Africa, faces significant climate challenges, including extreme heat, flooding, drought, and coastal erosion. Its vulnerability is heightened by rapid rural-urban migration, land degradation, and economic dependency on tourism and imports. The World Bank estimates the country needs $842 million for climate and development efforts over 2024-2030.

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The World Bank’s new report titled Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) estimates that Cabo Verde, a small archipelago located off the coast of West Africa, will need to invest $842 million over 2024-2030, or $140 million per year, to address its climate and development challenges.
|
Attribute |
Details |
|
Name |
Cabo Verde (also known as Cape Verde in the Anglosphere) |
|
Continent |
Africa |
|
|
|
|
Geography |
Made up of 10 volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, located off the northwestern part of Africa. |
|
Island Groups |
Divided into Barlavento (windward) and Sotavento (leeward) groups. |
|
Nearest Point |
Located near Senegal, the nearest point on the African continent. |
|
Climate |
Generally moderate with stable temperatures; characterized by extreme aridity. |
|
Terrain |
Eastern islands are geologically older and flatter; western islands are newer and mountainous. |
|
Population |
Predominantly of mixed European and African descent, referred to as mestiço or Crioulo. |
|
Capital |
Praia |
|
Languages Spoken |
Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole |
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Area |
30,330,000 sq. km (2nd largest continent, 6% of Earth's surface, 20.4% of land area) |
|
Nicknames |
"Mother Continent" (oldest inhabited) |
|
Geographical Lines |
Traversed by Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn; 0° latitude and longitude meet at Gulf of Guinea |
|
Largest Country |
Algeria (by area), Nigeria (by population) |
|
Smallest Country |
Seychelles |
|
Continental Boundaries |
North: Mediterranean Sea; Northeast: Red Sea, Isthmus of Suez; Southeast: Indian Ocean; West: Atlantic Ocean |
|
Countries |
54 sovereign states |
|
Major Physical Regions |
Sahara, Sahel, Ethiopian Highlands, Savanna, Swahili Coast, Rainforest, African Great Lakes, Southern Africa |
|
Region |
Countries Included |
|
Northern Africa |
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara, Canary Islands, Madeira |
|
Northeast Africa |
Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia (Horn of Africa) |
|
Eastern Africa |
Burundi, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
|
Central Africa |
Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Congo (Republic & Democratic), Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe |
|
Southern Africa |
Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini |
|
Western Africa |
Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, etc. |
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Plateaus |
South African Plateau, East African Plateau, Ethiopian Highlands, Katanga Plateau, Bie Plateau, Adamawa Plateau |
|
Mountains |
Atlas (Toubkal: 4,165 m), Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), Mount Kenya, Ruwenzori (Stanley: 5,119 m), Drakensberg, Ahaggar |
|
Deserts |
Sahara (largest hot desert), Kalahari, Namib (oldest desert), Nubian |
|
Rivers |
Nile, Congo, Niger, Zambezi |
|
Lakes |
Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi |
|
Islands |
Madagascar (largest), Zanzibar, Canary Islands, Seychelles, Mauritius, Réunion, Comoros |
|
Desert |
Features |
|
Sahara |
Largest hot desert, Tuareg tribes, oases, ergs, regs, and hamadas |
|
Namib |
Oldest desert, Benguela current influence, sandy dunes, Hottentots tribes |
|
Kalahari |
Semi-arid, Bushmen tribe, Okavango Delta |
|
Nubian |
Eastern Sahara, no oases, rocky desert, separated from Libyan Desert by the Nile |
|
Island |
Details |
|
Madagascar |
Largest island, biodiversity hotspot |
|
Canary Islands |
Spanish territory |
|
Zanzibar |
Tanzanian archipelago |
|
Mauritius |
Independent island nation |
|
Réunion |
French overseas territory |
|
Seychelles |
Smallest African nation |
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PRACTICE QUESTION
Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2,3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 2 and 4 only Answer: b Explanation: Cabo Verde is not located in the Mediterranean Sea; it is in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwestern coast of Africa, near Senegal. So, Statement 1 is incorrect. Cabo Verde consists of 10 volcanic islands, which are divided into two groups: Barlavento (windward) and Sotavento (leeward). So, Statement 2 is correct. The official language of Cabo Verde is Portuguese, and Cape Verdean Creole is widely spoken, but the capital is Praia, not Cape Verdean Creole. So, Statement 3 is correct. Cabo Verde has a generally moderate climate with stable temperatures, but it is characterized by extreme aridity. So, Statement 4 is correct. |
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