Serra da Malagueta mountains on Santiago Island, Cabo Verde

© Samuel Borges Photography/Shutterstoc

How green is my valley

Cabo Verde ('Green Cape') celebrates its independence today. We're looking at the northern part of Santiago, the largest island of the Cabo Verde archipelago. This is the island's Serra da Malagueta mountain range, which is protected as a national park. At nearly 3,500 feet, it's the highest point of northern Santiago and offers views of nearby Fogo and Maio islands, as well as diverse plants and wildlife.

The islands that make up Cabo Verde were uninhabited by people until they were colonized by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century. They remained in Portuguese control until gaining independence on July 5, 1975. Since the 1990s, Cabo Verde has been regarded as one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has steadily developed an economy based largely on tourism.