The Republic of Cape Verde lies in the Central Atlantic, less than a six-hour flight from Germany. The archipelago consists of 10 islands, nine of which are inhabited, and another 16 or so small islets.
A total of about 500,000 inhabitants live here.
A distinction is made between the northern islands above the wind (Ilhas de Barlavento) and the southern islands below the wind (Ilhas de Sotavento).
The islands above the wind are Santo Antão, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista and the uninhabited islands of Santa Luzia, Branco and Raso.
The Cape Verde Islands have a mild oceanic climate, which is determined by the northeast trade winds.
Thus, daytime temperatures range between 23 and 30 °C throughout the year, with nighttime values around 18 °C in winter (January to April) and 24 °C in summer (August to October). Water temperatures range from 22 to 27 °C all year round.
Each island is different and has its own peculiarities. The Cape Verdeans and their culture have a distinctive charm. It is a Creole people with different ancestries: The cultural richness is evident, among other things, in the music that can be heard everywhere - a result of the fusion of different cultures.
As a result of the country's checkered history, the Cape Verdean people are made up of many different ethnicities.
The mixture resulting from centuries of migration is still clearly reflected today: on the streets, it is not uncommon to encounter dark-skinned people with blond hair and blue eyes or, conversely, light-skinned children with jet-black hair. Racial discrimination is alien to Cape Verdeans.
The colorful picture of the archipelago also continues underwater. In the underwater world, warm and cold ocean currents meet and create an impressive landscape. The waters of Cape Verde invite snorkeling and diving with dolphins and sea turtles all year round.
Large groups of North Atlantic humpback whales migrate here each spring to have young.
In addition, there are a variety of large and small fish species, such as tuna, blue marlin and others.
