 Cape Verde — (kāp vûrd) |
About The People
Did You Know...... The ten stars of the Cape Verde flag represent the ten main islands of the archipelago. »» More
Fashion... Western style clothing is standard, many times it is second hand clothing. Women sometimes wear thei »» More
Socializing... Farewell and returning back to the island parties are important almost like rites of passages. Socia »» More
Family... Family life is rooted in the culture and history of the Islands. Parent make great sacrifices to edu »» More
Sports & Recreation... Soccer is the most popular sport. Swimming and surfboarding are also popular. A favorite game is »» More
| World Region: Africa
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Cape Verde History
In 1462, Portuguese settlers arrived at Santiago and founded Ribeira Grande (now Cidade Velha)--the first permanent European settlement city in the tropics. In the 16th century, the archipelago prospered from the transatlantic slave trade. Pirates occasionally attacked the Portuguese settlements. Sir Francis Drake sacked Ribeira Grande in 1585. After a French attack in 1712, the city declined in importance relative to Praia, which became the capital in 1770.
With the decline in the slave trade, Cape Verde's early prosperity slowly vanished. However, the islands' position astride mid-Atlantic shipping lanes made Cape Verde an ideal location for resupplying ships. Because of its excellent »» More | Statistics, Graphs, Charts, & Data Tables
Capital Cities... Praia »» History of Praia
Population: 429,474
GDP: $1,640,000,000 (USD)
Total Area: 4,033 (sq km) 1,557 (sq mi)
Currency: Cape Verdean escudo
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