Escape to the Cape: Cabo Verde Quiz

Answer: Senegal

Cabo Verde (formerly known as Cape Verde) is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 350 miles (560 kilometers) west of Senegal. It is strategically located along Atlantic shipping routes and has several ports able to accommodate large ships. Thus, it serves as a refueling point for both ship and air traffic and also as a communications center. Thanks to these communication installations, Baban quickly hears about Richard Dean Anderson's arrival in Cabo Verde and heads off in pursuit.

Answer: Rhode Island USA and Somerset UK

At approximately 1,560 square miles (4,000 square kilometers), Cabo Verde is also comparable to Prince Edward Island, Canada and Brunei; it is slightly smaller than both. This doesn't leave Richard Dean Anderson with many places to hide, particularly as he has an extensive fan base in Cabo Verde (well, around the world actually). Baban meets up with some of her fellow RDA fanatics to get reports of sightings before departing on her own search.

Answer: Hurricane formations

Hurricanes forming off the west coast of Cabo Verde have the open Atlantic over which to intensify. They are so notorious that they have their own name: Cape Verde-type hurricanes. Baban decides not to risk running into one and turns her attention to searching on land.

Answer: Ten

The main islands of Cabo Verde are divided into two groups, with the northern group called the Barlavento Islands and the southern group called the Sotavento Islands. The capital of Praia is located on the largest island, Santiago, which is in the latter group.

The island of Santa Luzia in the northern group is uninhabited. Cabo Verde also has a number of uninhabited islets (five to ten, depending on the source). After visiting all of the main islands, Baban decides to focus her search on two of the Sotavento Islands, Santiago and Fogo.

Answer: Active volcano

At 9,281 feet (2,829 meters), Mount Fogo (coincidentally located on the island of Fogo) is the only truly active volcano on the Cabo Verde islands. The islands are largely composed of volcanic rock, a by-product of which (pozzolana) is one of Cabo Verde's main export products. Luckily, Baban doesn't need her telescope; Richard Dean Anderson has been reported to be hiking in the interior of São Vicente Island, and she heads off after him.

Answer: Semi-desert

With an average rainfall of less than 10 inches (250 mm) a year, the islands are given a full desert classification by some sources. It is perhaps ironic, given its name, but Cabo Verde actually only has approximately 12 percent of arable land. The terrain of the islands largely consists of rugged volcanic rock and sheer ocean cliffs, but there are also palm tree-lined beaches, interior valleys and some flat land.

After spying Baban wandering among the cliffs, Richard Dean Anderson decides to abandon camping and head for the flat land on the island of Sal.

Answer: Salt

Both the islands of Sal (which appropriately means "salt" in Portuguese) and Maio have expansive salt flats. Sal also has salt marshes with similar buoyancy as the Dead Sea. Although not the major industry it once was for Cabo Verde, salt still is an export product for the country.

Other natural resources in Cabo Verde include volcanic rock by-products (pozzolana), limestone and gypsum.

Answer: Fresh water supplies are limited on the islands.

"Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink" is quite true of Cabo Verde. There are no significant fresh water lakes or rivers on the islands; there are a few streams but most only run after a decent rainfall. Of course, water is available; tourism is an industry in Cabo Verde, and tourists need water, but conservation of water is a necessity on the islands.

Answer: Droughts

Due to limited and unreliable rainfall, Cabo Verde is subject to frequent and prolonged droughts. Droughts will often last for decades with only short reprieves. Earthquakes and volcanic activity are also hazards on the islands. Fortunately, Richard Dean Anderson has been spared from those hazards, but the drought has affected the vegetation, and he longs to see green trees.

Answer: Central America

Depending on the reference source, they will first hit the Caribbean Islands near Guadeloupe, usually considered part of Central America. Then they would reach Central America proper, most likely Guatemala (again, depending on the source). Some maps appear to show South America as being due west from Cabo Verde, but the latitude listings do not support this.