Ten islands, one volcanic archipelago.
Cape Verde is a volcanic archipelago roughly 570 kilometers off the West African coast, formed over an oceanic hotspot in the Atlantic. Ten islands, nine of them inhabited, are split into two groups - Barlavento in the north and Sotavento in the south. Fogo is home to Pico do Fogo, one of West Africa's most active volcanoes, which last erupted in 2014/2015.
Geography at a glance.
- Location
- Atlantic, about 570 km off the West African coast (Senegal)
- Archipelago
- 10 islands (9 inhabited, Santa Luzia uninhabited), plus several small islets (incl. Branco, Raso)
- Land area
- 4,033 km² total
- Largest island
- ✓ Verified
Santiago, 991 km², home to capital Praia - Smallest inhabited island
- ✓ Verified
Brava, approx. 62.5 km² (aligned with the Brava island guide and Wikipedia, which cites 62.51 km² - an older version of this page listed a differing 66 km²) - Highest point
- Pico do Fogo, 2,829 m, an active volcano on Fogo
- Geological origin
- Volcanic archipelago formed over an oceanic hotspot in the Atlantic
- Last eruption
- November 23, 2014 - February 8, 2015, western flank of Pico do Fogo
Barlavento & Sotavento.
The ten islands are geographically split into two groups - named for their position relative to the prevailing trade winds. The two group areas are rounded individual figures, so their sum deviates slightly from the total area cited above (approx. 4,033 km²).
Barlavento
- Santo Antão Hiking & Nature
- São Vicente Mindelo & Music
- Santa Luzia uninhabited
- São Nicolau Mountains & Quiet
- Sal Beaches & Kitesurfing
- Boa Vista Dunes & Turtles
Sotavento
- Santiago Capital Praia
- Fogo Volcano & Wine
- Brava smallest inhabited island
- Maio Quiet & Salt Pans
Pico do Fogo - dormant, not extinct.
Cape Verde formed volcanically over an oceanic hotspot in the Atlantic - similar to the Canary Islands, Azores, or Madeira, but geologically a distinct hotspot region. At 2,829 meters, Pico do Fogo on the island of Fogo is not only Cape Verde's highest point, but also one of the most active volcanoes in West Africa.
The most recent eruption lasted from November 23, 2014, to February 8, 2015, and mainly affected the volcano's western flank. The lava flows destroyed large parts of the settlement of Chã das Caldeiras, which sits directly inside the volcanic caldera and has been known for centuries for its wine grown on volcanic soil. Since 2015 the volcano has been considered dormant, with occasional weak seismic activity in the region - a future eruption cannot be geologically ruled out.
Despite the 2014/2015 destruction, Chã das Caldeiras was resettled, and climbing Pico do Fogo is today one of the best-known hikes in Cape Verde - though exclusively with a local guide, since the route crosses active volcanic rock.
Why "Cape Verde" if the islands are so dry?
The name is often misleading: the Cape Verde Islands themselves are mostly barren and arid - lush green is found only at a few higher elevations like Santo Antão. The name wasn't inspired by the islands' vegetation, but by the Cap-Vert headland near Dakar in today's Senegal, the westernmost point of the African mainland, which the same expeditions had sighted beforehand.
Sources & status of this page
- Area figures (total area 4,033 km², Santiago 991 km², Pico do Fogo 2,829 m): match the values documented on Wikipedia (incl. "Geography of Cape Verde", "Fogo, Cape Verde").
- Brava area (62.5 km², corrected 10/17/2026): aligned with Wikipedia (62.51 km²) as well as our own Brava and island-overview guides - this page previously listed a differing 66 km², which caused a sitewide inconsistency across three pages.
- Pico do Fogo eruption dates (11/23/2014 - 02/08/2015): confirmed by Wikipedia ("2014-15 Fogo eruption") and the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program.
- Volcanic hotspot origin of the archipelago (primary source added 10/17/2026): confirmed by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (its own research program "Hotspot Volcanism above and under the Sea" on Cape Verde) - consistent with the previously sole-cited Wikipedia framing, analogous to the Canaries/Azores/Madeira as a distinct hotspot region. Per GEOMAR, archipelago formation began roughly 20 million years ago in the east, with an age progression toward the younger, still seismically active western islands.
- Origin of the name (Cap-Vert near Dakar, not island vegetation): a widely accepted historical explanation, documented on Wikipedia among other sources - not a single source, but an established consensus.
Questions about geography.
How many islands does Cape Verde have?
The archipelago consists of 10 islands, 9 of which are inhabited. Santa Luzia in the Barlavento group is uninhabited. There are also several small, uninhabited islets such as Branco and Raso.
Is Pico do Fogo still active?
Yes. The last eruption was in 2014/2015, and the volcano has been considered dormant since. Geologically it remains active, and a future eruption cannot be ruled out.
What's the difference between Barlavento and Sotavento?
Barlavento ("windward") refers to the northern island group (Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista), while Sotavento ("leeward") refers to the southern group (Santiago, Fogo, Brava, Maio) - named for their position relative to the prevailing northeast trade wind.
Can you climb Pico do Fogo?
Yes, the climb is one of the best-known hikes in Cape Verde and is offered from the Chã das Caldeiras starting point - for safety reasons, exclusively with a local guide, since the route crosses active volcanic rock.
Why is Cape Verde called the "Green Cape" when the islands are fairly dry?
The name doesn't come from the islands' own vegetation, but from the Cap-Vert headland near Dakar (Senegal), which had been sighted earlier by the same Portuguese expeditions.
More about Culture & People.
Want to learn more about Cape Verde?
Discover the history, culture, and daily life of the archipelago - or plan your trip directly with our 360° Check.