Cape Verde Is.
General Information for Cape Verde
Geo-political:
Capital City: Praia.
Nationality: (noun) Cape Verdean, (adjective) Cape Verdean.
Population: 429,474.
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 238.
Number of Internal Airports: 9.
Major Languages Spoken: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words).
Economy:
Currency: 1 Cape Verde Escudo (CVE) of 100 Centavos.
Main Industries: Food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining and ship repair.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Other Maritime Claims: Contiguous Zone: 24 n.m. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 965 km.
Climate: Temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic.
Natural Resources: Salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay and gypsum.
Natural Hazards: Prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically
and seismically active.
Terrain: Steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic.
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
Maritime Single Window system implemented for the submission of pre-arrival documentation.
Janela Unica Portuaria (JUP) is available to registered users on the PCS Enapor page
at
www.enapor.cv
MEDICAL:
Medical facilities in Cape Verde are limited, and some medicines are in short supply
or unavailable. The country’s largest hospitals are in Praia and Mindelo, with smaller
medical facilities and clinics located throughout the country. Medical facilities
are very limited on Boavista. The islands of Brava and Santo Antao no longer have
functioning airports, so air evacuation in the event of a medical emergency is nearly
impossible from these two islands.
There is a moderate risk of Zika virus transmission in Cape Verde. There is a low
risk of malaria in Praia, Santiago Island.
Also see
General
HOLIDAYS:
1 January (New Year's Day); 13 January (Liberty and Democracy Day); 20 January (Heroes'
Day); 21 February (Carnival); 1 May (Labour Day); 1 June (Children's Day); 5 July
(Independence Day); 15 August (Assumption B.V. Mary); 1 November (All Saints' Day);
25 December (Christmas Day).
WEATHER/TIDES:
The rainy season in Cape Verde is from mid August to mid October. Torrential rains
can cause floods and landslides. Hurricanes can develop in this time.
Although hurricanes often begin their formation in the waters around the Cape Verde
Islands, they rarely reach hurricane strength close to the islands. A typical Cape
Verde-type hurricane develops in the area south of the islands following a tropical
wave from mainland Africa (during the rainy season usually between August and October).
Also see
General
GENERAL:
Information obtained from UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. Consult
www.gov.uk/fco for updates.
