Fogo Island, Cape Vert.
Vulcanism? Vulcanism! This is one of those marvelous sites to enjoy every aspect of this geological phenomenon, except possibly, red-hot lava flowing. Fogo is one of the series of the small islands off the coast of western Africa, part of that series of islands called Macaronesia , comprised by the Azores, Madeira, Canaries and the Cape Verts. Fogo is the typical volcanic island, comprised of a huge volcanic massif arising from 4 000 ft underwater, and forming a very steep cone. The recent eruptions were in 1951 and 1996, when the island had to be evacuated. But the last turmoil was short and not too strong, and the inhabitants of the crater (!!) returned very soon. Here they plant corn, grapes, peaches and potatoes in the rich volcanic sand.
In comparison with continents, islands are a very fragile ecological environment, as they carry a lower number of plant and animal species that have reached and adapted to those conditions along perhaps millions of years. Cape Vert today can boast of around 80 endemic or native species of plants that originated here, and are to be found only here. Indeed, six of them are unique to the island of Fogo. The islands of Cape Vert, as well as Fogo have extensive rain shadows. The ocean brings clouds in, laden with water. As they encounter the mountains, they are pushed up by the wind, cool off and, through adiabasis, unload the water. The lee sides of the mountains receive very little of this biologically precious liquid. Yet the nearest continent from which biological species have arrived here is Africa. The low number and characteristics of the plants here is to be attributed to the fact that these islands are near the Sahel in Africa.
We had a snack in the small community of Portela in the crater, and walked around town enjoying the lovely children, the rough sites and a donkey with pants! Yes, the biting flies were terrible for that beast.
Vulcanism? Vulcanism! This is one of those marvelous sites to enjoy every aspect of this geological phenomenon, except possibly, red-hot lava flowing. Fogo is one of the series of the small islands off the coast of western Africa, part of that series of islands called Macaronesia , comprised by the Azores, Madeira, Canaries and the Cape Verts. Fogo is the typical volcanic island, comprised of a huge volcanic massif arising from 4 000 ft underwater, and forming a very steep cone. The recent eruptions were in 1951 and 1996, when the island had to be evacuated. But the last turmoil was short and not too strong, and the inhabitants of the crater (!!) returned very soon. Here they plant corn, grapes, peaches and potatoes in the rich volcanic sand.
In comparison with continents, islands are a very fragile ecological environment, as they carry a lower number of plant and animal species that have reached and adapted to those conditions along perhaps millions of years. Cape Vert today can boast of around 80 endemic or native species of plants that originated here, and are to be found only here. Indeed, six of them are unique to the island of Fogo. The islands of Cape Vert, as well as Fogo have extensive rain shadows. The ocean brings clouds in, laden with water. As they encounter the mountains, they are pushed up by the wind, cool off and, through adiabasis, unload the water. The lee sides of the mountains receive very little of this biologically precious liquid. Yet the nearest continent from which biological species have arrived here is Africa. The low number and characteristics of the plants here is to be attributed to the fact that these islands are near the Sahel in Africa.
We had a snack in the small community of Portela in the crater, and walked around town enjoying the lovely children, the rough sites and a donkey with pants! Yes, the biting flies were terrible for that beast.
