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Last Minute Tips Before you Travel to Cape Verde
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC -1
- Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz (bring an adapter/transformer for your hair drier, laptop, cellullar phone etc.)
- Currency:Escudo Caboverdiano (CVEsc)
- Country Dialing Code: 238
Cape Verde
Location
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Capital
Praia
Population
418,224 (July 2005 est.)
Regions
17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Climate
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Ethnic groups
Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Government type
republic
Background
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
Visitor's Impressions
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