Cape Verde. Cova is a volcanic caldera in the east-central part of the island of Santo Antão. It is situated at the southwestern end of the municipality of Paul. Its lowest point is 1,166 meters, and the highest point of the crater rim is about 1,500 m. The diameter of the caldera is about 1.0 km. The Cova formation dates from between 1.4 million and 700,000 years ago. The Cova crater benefits from high precipitation values carried by trade winds. At the bottom of the caldera maize and beans are grown. Natural and semi-natural vegetation occupies the crater walls facing north and northeast. South facing walls are covered with a forest of Pinus and Cupressus species. The island of Santo Antão (Portuguese for "Saint Anthony") is the northwestern most island of Cape Verde. At 785 km2 (303 sq mi), it is the largest of the Barlavento Islands group of Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, which is an island country and archipelagic state of West Africa. 7.03.2025 © 2025 Didier Ruef