CAPE VERDE PENINSULA

French Presqu'le Du Cap Vert, peninsula in west-central Senegal. Formed by a combination of volcanic offshore islands and a land bridge produced by coastal currents, it projects into the Atlantic Ocean, bending back to the southeast at its tip, and is the westernmost point of the African continent. Exposure to southwesterly winds contributes to Cape Verde's verdant appearance, in contrast to the undulating yellow dunes to the north. The peninsula embraces a bay and an excellent natural harbour in the southwest. Since about 1444, when the Portuguese first sighted the cape, it has been an entrept for African-European trade. Dakar, established there by the French in 1857, is now the capital of the Republic of Senegal. The economy The economy is mixed, with approximately half the national production generated by state-owned concerns. Agriculture absorbs most of the labour force, although small-scale industry and services together generate a larger share of the gross national product (GNP). The mainstays of the economy are the revenue from Amlcar Cabral International Airport on Sal, foreign aid, and emigrants' remittances. These enable the balance of payments to stay generally positive despite imports far exceeding exports. As a nonaligned nation, Cape Verde receives aid from a variety of sources. There is one state bank, the Banco de Cabo Verde. The currency is the Cape Verdean escudo. Resources Cape Verde has few natural resources. The lack of fresh water is a problem. On So Vicente and Sal it is provided by desalination plants (which also generate electricity). Water is also obtained from springs, wells, and rainwater stored in cisterns. The country relies on imported oil for fuel. Fish are the major natural resource. Salt from Boa Vista, Maio, and Sal (meaning Salt) was once an important export. Pozzolana, a volcanic rock that is used in making cement, is exported. The land Relief, drainage, and soils The islands are mountainous and are volcanic in origin. Only the three oldestBoa Vista, Maio, and Sal, the so-called Rasas (Flat) islandshave suffered enough erosion to have much level ground. Fogo (meaning Fire) has an active volcano, Mount Cano, whose last major eruption was in 1951. Its cone rises 9,281 feet (2,829 metres) above sea level. The peak of Mount Coroa on Santo Anto is 6,493 feet. So Tiago and So Nicolau both have mountains more than 4,200 feet high. All the islands, especially the Windwards, have been eroded by sand carried by high winds, so that the outline of the landscape appears jagged. There are few watercourses that run all year, and even these do not reach their ends during the dry season. Dry watercourses fill up for several days during the short, intense rainy season. Rains tend to occur as torrential storms, causing severe soil erosion and great damage to agriculture. Groundwater is the primary source of domestic water supply. Some groundwater sources, however, are sulfurous; others, mainly on So Vicente and Boa Vista, are slightly salty due to the low water tables. Almost a quarter of the land area is rock of volcanic origin; basalt is a common type. More than 60 percent of the land is arid and lacking in humus and thus is suitable only for rough grazing. Sand and limestone outcrops are common in these areas. The remaining 15 percent is fertile; it contains alluvial deposits and is suitable for irrigation. Soil erosion has been one of Cape Verde's greatest problems. It began to have a serious effect in the early 19th century, attributable to overgrazing by goats. Since independence a nationwide campaign to prevent erosion has been under way, involving planting drought-resistant varieties of acacia trees (which now cover 7.5 percent of the land surface), building small dikes, and improving farming techniques. Climate Moderate, stable temperatures and extreme aridity characterize the climate. February is the coolest month, with an average temperature of 71 F (22 C), and September is the warmest, having an average of 80 F (27 C). The islands are almost constantly under the influence of a dry northeast wind. Consequently there is almost no rainfall, except for a period from August through October, when an average of 1.6 inches (39 millimetres) a month is recorded. These rains can fail for years at a time. The people The overwhelming majority of the islands' population is Creole (mulatto), the descendants of early contacts between Portuguese settlers and Africans brought as slaves to work on the plantations in the 16th century. Among the latter, Fulani (Fula) and Mandingo people from the region of Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau predominated. Although Portuguese is the official language and is used in formal situations and for most written material, Crioulo is the mother tongue of most people. It is one of the oldest of the Portuguese creole languages. Different dialects of Crioulo exist on the different islands. Most of the population is Roman Catholic, but a flourishing Protestant mission is based in Praia with a publishing venture in Fogo. Particularly in Sotavento, the celebration of Roman Catholic saints' days with drumming, dancing, and singing reveals the underlying African culture. The population growth rate of more than 2 percent per year is high by world standards but is relatively low for western Africa. A steady emigration of young males seeking employment abroad and one of the lowest birth rates in sub-Saharan Africa have been responsible for dampening Cape Verde's population growth. Life expectancy, at 60 years for males and 64 years for females, is the highest in western Africa. About half of the people live abroad as emigrant workers, often returning upon retirement. This trend began in the early 19th century with the arrival of American whaling ships that offered the opportunity for work and travel to the United States. Cape Verdeans still work on foreign merchant ships, and Boston, Mass., has a large immigrant community. During Portuguese rule, Cape Verdeans worked throughout the Portuguese empire as government officials and labourers. More recently, Portugal, The Netherlands, and France have become important destinations.