Madrid to Rio de Janeiro

A close up aerial view of the cone of the Pico volcano on Fogo island - this smaller peak lies on top of the original volcanic caldera which makes up the entire island.

1660 - An early Dutch map of the southern coast of Spain (top), Madeira (centre), the Canary Islands (lower right) and the Cape Verde islands (bottom left hand corner).

Volcanic layering seen in a cut away section of rock and soil on Santo Antão island, built up through a series of eruption events and the deposition of weathered volcanic material.

This map highlights suspected global volcanic hot spots, such as the hot spot that created the Cape Verde islands highlighted in yellow on the far right, off the west coast of Africa.

From this satellite image, it is clear to see how the newer small volcanic cone and original huge caldera of Pico, on the island of Fogo, make up the entire island.

Basalt from previous volcanic eruptions has been worn smooth by weathering of wind and water. When lava erupts into the sea it creates "pillow lava" in rounded forms.

The newest cone of the Pico volcano on Fogo island. This sharp peak rises prominently from the surrounding caldera, with debris and flows from the 1995 eruption seen on the flanks.

Sharp volcanic pinnacles and towers rise up from the steep, inaccessible volcanic cliffs of Santo Antão island. All ten of the Cape Verde islands are volcanic in origin.

A map showing the ten islands of the Cape Verde Republic, divided into the northern section of the Windward Isles and the southern section of the Leeward Isles.

A topographic map of the Leeward Cape Verde Isles of Brava (just seen), Togo (with its prominent volcanic cone), Santiago (the main island of the chain) and Maio (far right).

The Pico volcano and caldera on Fogo Island, which got its name from the fiery eruptions of the volcano as seen by Portuguese settlers. The volcano last erupted in 1995 (as marked here).

1746 - A French map of the Cape Verde islands showing their original colonial Portuguese names. The islands were uninhabited until the Portuguese settled them in the 15th century.

This diagram shows how a series of hot spot volcanoes such as Cape Verde is created. As the Earth's crust slowly moves over the hot spot, a line of distinct volcanoes develop over time.

Much of the ground on the Cape Verde islands is inhospitable to vegetation, due to the volcanic base rock or sandy beaches so species have adapted to evolve and survive.

A Cape Verdean stamp commemorating the Brown Booby, an Atlantic sea bird which is commonly seen on the islands, returning here to nest and breed every year.

The salt pans on Sal island (named after these salty lakes) within the inactive Pedra Lume volcano. The red colouring of the water is determined by the salinity and bacteria in the ponds.

Cistanche phelypaea, a species of broomrape, is one of the hardy plants that is able to flourish on the sandy dunes and dry soil across the Cape Verde islands.

The incredible volcanic pinnacles and pointed peaks of Santo Antão exemplify Cape Verde's dramatic volcanic landscape, and are a significant tourist draw.

An aerial view of Praia, the capital city of Cape Verde, which was founded in 1615 due to its favourable coastal and port location and room to expand across the plateau.

An adult Purple Heron feeds her chick on her nest. These birds often winter on the islands, and have developed an endemic sub-species called Bourne's Heron, found only in Cape Verde.

A juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird, one of many Atlantic sea birds that return to the Cape Verde islands year on year to nest and breed in a safe and relatively undisturbed haven.

A view out to sea along the terrace hillsides at Fontainhas on the island of Santo Antão. Because the islands are steep and rocky, Portuguese settlers carved terraces to allow planting.

A tiny Cape Verdean village clings to the hillside near Fontainhas on Santo Antão. The inaccessible landscape means that paths, fields and even housing needs to be terraced.

The beautiful but inaccessible volcanic landscape on Santo Antão island. The gorge running through the centre of the image has been eroded by years of seasonal erosion by water.

The Cape Verde islands are all of volcanic origin, and even where vegetation covers the rocky surface, the landforms and rock formations beneath display their volcanic origins.

Terraced fields are a necessity across the Cape Verde islands to provide sufficient land for agriculture. These were first introduced by the Portuguese settlers in the 15th century.

The pontao (pier) in Sal Rei on the island of Boavista. Children enjoy jumping off the pier into the cool clear waters, rolling in the sand and seeing the water change colour after they’ve submerged.

Cape Verdean artist Lura performing at the WOMAD festival in Reading, UK. Her work is based on traditional morna melodies and helps to bring global appeal to this style.

Cape Verde is famous for its many festivals and carnivals, which occur across the islands, with lively music and incredible costumes worn by the dancers and performers.

Cape Verdean children assemble for their graduation from kindergarten, with parents looking on. Lessons are taught in Portuguese but many children speak Creole as a first language.

A fisherman's catch awaits cleaning on the quayside. A huge range of species of marine life are found offshore, here we see moray eels, red garoupa and ku dos Rahinha.

A morna group performing in the Cape Verde islands. Accompanied by a vocalist, the group is usually made up of clarinet, violin, guitar and cavaquinho (Portuguese guitar).

A statue commemorating Diego Gomes, a Portuguese explorer who "stumbled upon" the Cape Verde islands in the 15th century and claimed the islands for Portugal.

Cesária Évora, the world-famous Cape Verdean singer whose haunting morna music in traditional Creole style has been nominated for numerous Grammy awards.

A picturesque view looking south from Santa Maria on the island of Sal, one of the northern Windward Isles. Stunning beaches are helping to promote the growth of tourism.

The municipal market in São Filipe, on Fogo Island, showcases the variety of food crops that diligent farmers are able to produce in the harsh, semi-arid conditions across the islands.

A typical small village on the south West Coast of Brava island with 450 inhabitants, a small school, bar and guest house. Many of the islands are very sparsely populated.

Praia, the capital city of the Cape Verde islands on Santiago, the largest of the ten islands. It is the largest city in the republic with approximately 111,500 people, or one fifth of the total population.

A cannon still stands guard over one of the Cape Verde lighthouses. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the islands were prone to attack by pirates and occasionally other European forces.

Rows of fishing boats in the harbour on Santo Antão. Nearly all the food consumed on Cape Verde is locally produced, and so seafood plays and crucial and important role.