The Republic of Cape Verde is a republic located on an
archipelago of the North
Atlantic Ocean, off the western coast of
Africa. The uninhabited islands were discovered and
colonized by the
Portuguese in the
15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African
slaves. Most Cape Verdeans descend from both groups. Independence was achieved in
1975. The capital is
Praia.
"Cape Verde" is named for Cap-Vert, now in Senegal, the westernmost point of Africa.
- Much of the material in these articles comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.
