Physical setting
Island country
geographic context
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Geography & Environment
Geography & Environment in Cabo Verde
PraiaLocal time
Geography & Environment
Cabo Verde is a volcanic Atlantic archipelago of ten islands, nine of them inhabited. Rugged volcanic relief is strongest on Fogo, where Pico do Fogo rises to 2,829 metres, while the surrounding ocean moderates temperatures and rainfall is concentrated in a short seasonal window.
Relief anchor
Pico do Fogo
named high terrain
Cabo Verde at a Glance
Volcanic island relief, Pico do Fogo and a warm maritime climate define Cabo Verde's physical setting.
Physical geography
terrain · drainage · setting
Steep, rugged volcanic islands with rocky slopes and limited lowland terrain. The relief anchor used here is Pico do Fogo; it is shown as a named physical reference rather than as a ranking claim.
Regional frameWestern Africa
SettingIsland country
Relief focusPico do Fogo
Climate pattern
Cabo Verde has a warm maritime climate with limited seasonal temperature range; rainfall is concentrated mainly in the mid-year to early-autumn wet season and varies strongly between years.
Water and landform context
All of Cabo Verde's islands are volcanic in origin, with Fogo remaining the country's active volcanic island and Pico do Fogo forming the archipelago's highest relief.
Terrain, Climate and Environment
Three connected views of Cabo Verde's physical setting.
Relief and terrain
PhysicalThe volcanic islands are generally rugged, and Pico do Fogo reaches 2,829 metres, the highest point in the archipelago.
Climate pattern
ClimateMaritime influence keeps annual temperatures relatively moderate, while rainfall is strongly seasonal and variable.
Environmental setting
EnvironmentFogo is the archipelago's active volcanic island, making volcanic landforms an important part of Cabo Verde's environmental setting.
Understand the landscape
What Cabo Verde's geographic profile is telling you
Cabo Verde's volcanic origin explains its steep island relief, while the Atlantic Ocean moderates temperatures across the archipelago. Rainfall is limited and seasonal, creating a sharp contrast between dry conditions and the short wet period.
Detailed Geography & Environment Data
| Measure | Reference | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Physical setting | Island country | Geographic classification |
| Relief anchor | Pico do Fogo | Named physical feature |
| Climate | Warm and dry, with low and highly variable rainfall and strong maritime influence. | |
| Terrain | Steep, rugged volcanic islands with rocky slopes and limited lowland terrain. | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of terrain does Cabo Verde have?
At country scale, the main terrain pattern is: steep, rugged volcanic islands with rocky slopes and limited lowland terrain.
What is Cabo Verde's climate like?
The broad climate profile varies with latitude, elevation and exposure. The source summary describes it as: warm and dry, with low and highly variable rainfall and strong maritime influence.
What physical feature helps explain the landscape?
A useful way to read the landscape is through the relationship between relief and drainage. The volcanic island chain includes Fogo, whose high cone creates the archipelago’s strongest relief.
Sources & methodology
Cabo Verde's profile uses national government, education and meteorology/geophysics sources for volcanic origin, Pico do Fogo, climate and island structure.
View sources used for this page
Government of Cabo Verde, About Cabo Verde
Government reference for the ten-island volcanic archipelago, national area, maritime temperature influence and seasonal rainfall.
Cabo Verde Ministry of Education, Geography Manual
Government education reference for volcanic relief and Pico do Fogo at 2,829 metres.
Cabo Verde National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics, Geophysics
National scientific reference for the volcanic origin of the islands and the active volcanic status of Fogo.