Discover the Charm: Top 13 Amazing Fun Facts About Cape Verde You Never Knew!

1. Cha-Cha Diaspora

Cape Verde's got The Cha-Cha Diaspora: a third of the population lives abroad, infusing their homeland's lively music with diverse African and Latin American flavors, resulting in a foot-tapping tradition-meets-innovation blend.
Source => journals.openedition.org

2. Migrant Boost Surprise

Just when you thought the grass was greener on the other side (of the world), Cape Verdeans have a twist for you: their citizens living abroad significantly contribute to the country's development through professional competencies and remittances, yet there are more residents within the country than those exploring the globe. Surprise!
Source => iom.int

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=> Fun Facts about Portugal

3. Spa Season, Mother Nature Style

Next time you're planning to shower Cape Verde with praise, keep in mind that they have their own version of spa season, courtesy of Mother Nature: Cape Verde's rainy season occurs from September to November, featuring light and warm rainfall that travelers often find delightful, contrasting with the dry season dominating the rest of the year and the consistently comfortable climate with an average temperature range throughout the year.
Source => seasonsyear.com

4. Fiery Highs of Pico do Fogo

Move over Mount Everest, there's a new peak in town that's both hot and bothered: Cape Verde proudly hosts Pico do Fogo, the highest peak in the country and West Africa, standing at a fiery 2,829 meters (9,281 feet) above sea level – and it's not just high, it's an active stratovolcano too! With its latest eruptions making headlines in 1951, 1995, and 2014-15, Pico do Fogo continues to intrigue volcanologists and thrill-seekers alike.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Pocket-Sized Phone Superheroes

Who needs a phone booth when you've got a pocket-sized superhero? Cape Verdeans sure don't: As of 2021, there are 100.38 mobile subscribers per 100 people in Cape Verde, a massive leap from 0 subscribers per 100 people in 1960, according to The International Telecommunication Union. Voice-carrying cellular tech makes telephone wires look like ancient relics, but don't confuse these superhuman numbers with data cards, USB modems, or telepoint - it's just the talkative types we're counting here.
Source => theglobaleconomy.com

6. Musical Cultural Feast

If Beyoncé, Mozart, and Shakira got together for a cross-cultural musical dinner, they'd likely whip up a Cape Verdean feast: This vibrant archipelago boasts a unique mix of African, European, and Latin American sounds, showcased in music styles like the soulful morna (popularized by the iconic Cesaria Evora), along with the energetic funana, coladeira, and batuque.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Bird and Wildlife Wonderland

Birds of a feather flock to Cape Verde – and we’re not just winging it: This Atlantic archipelago is home to over 130 species of migrant birds and more than 30 endemic species like the Iago sparrow and Raso lark, as well as indigenous mammals such as bats and rodents, and unique reptiles like the giant gecko and Mabuya skinks, making it a wildlife wonderland for enthusiasts.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Real-Life Superhero Cable

If you thought the Avengers were a power-packed team, wait till you meet the digital connectivity alliance of six West African countries, spearheaded by none other than a submarine cable project named after a real-life superhero: The Amilcar Cabral submarine cable project is named in honor of Amilcar Lopes da Costa Cabral, a prominent figure in the independence movement of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. This ambitious endeavor aims to improve regional infrastructure, facilitate digital communication and e-commerce, and pave the path for a unified digital market in the ECOWAS region – all under the watchful eye of the ECOWAS Commission and upheld by their commitment to ICT excellence within their Revised Treaty.
Source => subtelforum.com

9. Adventure Haven São Nicolau

Where weary souls find solace and sore muscles scream for mercy: São Nicolau, a lesser-known Cape Verde island, lures nature enthusiasts to its breathtaking mountain landscapes, teeming with unique flora and fauna – an idyllic backdrop for the more adventurous at heart to embark on hiking and horse riding expeditions.
Source => capeverde.co.uk

10. Geckos & Skinks Showdown

In a Cape Verdean twist on the classic reptilian game "Geckos and Skinks," these scaly friends are shaking things up in a totally unique, island-style showdown: Cape Verde is the exclusive habitat for an array of endemic lizard species such as the colossal giant wall gecko, the fiery Fogo wall gecko, and the elusive Tarentola rudis, as well as some standout skink stars like Chioninia spinalis and Chioninia fogoensis – all just waiting to be marveled at in their natural island environments.
Source => animalia.bio

11. Underwater Maritime Treasures

Ahoy, shipwreck enthusiasts and underwater treasure hunters! It's time to dive into Cape Verde's maritime graveyard, where lost, rusted behemoths tell stories of yesteryear's fumbled journeys: Home to over 70 shipwrecks from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, Cape Verde's waters contain unrecorded treasures awaiting discovery by divers and archaeologists. These relics echo the islands' historical significance as a slave trading center and replenishment point for European ships en route to Asia and South America. Notable finds include the East Indiaman Hartwell, which sank during its maiden voyage in 1784, carrying 320,000 Spanish portrait dollars worth £770,000 at the time.
Source => capeverdeinfo.org.uk

12. Budget-Friendly Mindelo Carnival

While Rio de Janeiro and Salvador da Bahia's Carnivals might have served as the blueprint and inspiration for Fortnite's "Party Royale," Mindelo's own festive extravaganza boasts an unmistakable West African flavor, wallet-friendly fares, and a surprising ease of navigation for enthusiastic merrymakers: Dubbed the Mindelo Carnival, this celebration features the beloved Mandinga parades, where roving bands of warriors pay homage to their West African ancestry, alongside other official Carnival groups like Cruzeiros do Norte, Monte Sossego, Flores do Mindelo, and Vindos do Oriente, which collectively attract thousands of revelers to throng the streets of Mindelo and marvel at increasingly elaborate and stunning parade trucks and outfits that rival those of their more famous brethren.
Source => mindelocaboverde.com

13. The Secret Code of Creole

In a plot twist even M. Night Shyamalan couldn't have dreamed up, the citizens of Cape Verde have been speaking in code since the 15th century: Cape Verdean Creole is the oldest living creole language, spoken by almost all Cape Verdeans as their native tongue. With its roots in a Portuguese pidgin, the language has evolved distinct dialects and lexicons over time, making it a fascinating linguistic phenomenon and a vital aspect of the nation's cultural identity.
Source => en.wikipedia.org