ABSTRACT
The archipelago of Cape Verde consists of ten volcanic islands located 500 km west of Dakar, nine of which are inhabited: St. Anthony (Santo Antão), St. Vincent (São Vicente), St. Nicholas (São Nicolau), Sal and Boavista in the Windward (Barlavento) group; Brava, Fogo, Santiago and Maio in the Leeward (Sotavento) group. The country covers a total land area of 4,033 km2 on the outskirts of the Sahelian climate zone. Most islands are mountainous, except for the three easternmost (Sal, Boavista and Maio), which are generally flat and sandy. For a total of 491,683 local inhabitants (INE, 2010), twice as many are estimated to live overseas, as an extensive and engaged diaspora. Santiago is the largest and most populous, followed in size by St. Anthony and St. Vincent in number of inhabitants.
