Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Senegal

16 00 N, 24 00 W

World

total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km

slightly larger than Rhode Island

0 km

965 km

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very
erratic

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous volcanic
ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish

arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 83% (1993 est.)

30 sq km (1993 est.)

prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure
visibility; volcanically and seismically active

overgrazing of livestock and improper
land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to
soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in
deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened
several species of birds and reptiles; overfishing

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa
near major north-south sea routes; important communications station;
important sea and air refueling site