Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references: World
Area:
total:
4,033 sq km
land:
4,033 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
[Mt. Fogo]? 2,829 m (a volcano on [Fogo Island]?)
Natural resources: salt, basalt? rock, pozzuolana? (a siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish
Land use:
arable land:
11%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
6%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged drought?s; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues: 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 reptile?s; overfishing?
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
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