Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) History, Geography, Economy and Important Events

The archipelago remained uninhabited until the 15th century, when Portuguese explorers discovered and colonized the islands, establishing the first European settlement in the tropics. The 16th and 17th centuries prospered, attracting merchants, privateers and pirates. The suppression of the Atlantic slave-trade in the 19th century led to economic decline and migration. Incorporated as a foreign department of Portugal in 1951, the islands continued to campaign for independence, after which they gained independence in 1975.

The Cape Verde Archipelago is about 570 kilometers (350 mi) off the west coast of the African continent, near Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania, in the Atlantic Ocean, the largest island in both size and population, Santiago, which is the country's capital, Priya hosts the major urban agglomeration in the archipelago.

Despite the scarcity of natural resources Cape Verde's remarkable economic growth and improved living conditions have achieved international recognition, with development aid often provided by other countries and international organizations. Since 2007, the UN has classified it as a developing nation rather than a least developed country.

The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. It is the language of education and government. It is also used in newspapers, television and radio. Cape Verdean Creole is used colloquially and is the mother tongue of almost all Cape Words.

Gambia [M] , Mauritania [M] , Senegal [M] ,
Definition of international border: L = Land Border | M = Maritime Border