The Republic of Cape Verde consists of ten volcanic islands. They are located 570 kilometers from the African mainland in the Atlantic Ocean. The only active volcano is on the island of Fogo. Its last eruption was in 2014. The climate of the archipelago is determined by the trade winds, which makes it very dry. The country has a shortage of water. The uninhabited islands were discovered in the 15th century by Portuguese navigators. The first settlement on the islands was Cidade Velha, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2022. The Nossa Senhora do Rosário church was built here in 1495. It is the oldest colonial church in the world. The islands have a population of around 550,000. The official language is Portuguese. Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal on July 5, 1975. Tourism is an increasingly important part of the country's economy.