Western Africa
What tectonic plate is Cape Verde on?
Cape Verde sits entirely on the African Plate.
- Plates
- 1
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 1
- Holocene volcanoes
- 2
- Land area
- 3,585 km²
Plates under Cape Verde
Share of Cape Verde's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
No plate boundary crosses Cape Verde itself, so it sits in the stable interior of the African Plate, although strong earthquakes can still reach it from nearby boundaries or older faults.
Earthquakes in Cape Verde
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Cape Verde. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 1 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 267 km NNW of Ponta do Sol, Cabo Verde | M6.5 | 1941 | 10 km | African |
Volcanoes in Cape Verde
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 2 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Cape Verde.
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is Cape Verde on?
Cape Verde sits entirely on the African Plate.
Is Cape Verde on a plate boundary?
No plate boundary crosses Cape Verde itself, so it sits in the stable interior of the African Plate, although strong earthquakes can still reach it from nearby boundaries or older faults.
Does Cape Verde get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Cape Verde. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 1 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M6.5 267 km NNW of Ponta do Sol, Cabo Verde in 1941.
Are there volcanoes in Cape Verde?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 2 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Cape Verde.