Where Is Cape Verde Located? the Island Nation Stunner That Shocked Argentina
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Cape Verde sits in the central Atlantic Ocean, positioned between latitudes 14° and 18° N and longitudes 22° and 26° W. If you trace a straight line directly west from Dakar, the westernmost point of continental Africa in Senegal, you will hit the archipelago after approximately 570 kilometers (350 miles) of open ocean. The nation forms an irregular horseshoe shape spanning roughly 4,033 square kilometers (1,557 square miles) of land across ten distinct volcanic islands, nine of which are permanently inhabited.
Geographers divide the archipelago into two primary clusters determined by prevailing trade winds. The northern group, known as the Barlavento (Windward) islands, includes Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista. The southern cluster, known as the Sotavento (Leeward) islands, comprises Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava. Santiago is the largest island and houses the vibrant capital city of Praia, the nation's political, administrative, and economic nerve center.
The islands are part of Macaronesia, an ecological collective of four volcanic archipelagos in the North Atlantic that also includes the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. Unlike its northern Macaronesian neighbors, which remain territories of Portugal and Spain, Cape Verde gained full sovereignty in 1975, establishing itself as an independent African island republic.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
