Mount Gordo

Monte Gordo is a mountain on the Cape Verdean island of So Nicolau. It is the island's highest point, standing at 1,312 meters above sea level. It is located in the western part of the island, 6 kilometers west of Ribeira Brava, the island's capital. The mountain is less than a million years old and was formed by volcanic activity. The mountain serves as the border between the municipalities of Tarrafal de So Nicolau and Ribeira Brava. The Monte Gordo Natural Park includes it.

The Monte Gordo Natural Park was established to safeguard the humid mountain habitat. It was founded on February 24, 2003, and the IUCN has classified it as category V. The park covers 9.52 square kilometers. It is one of Cape Verde's rare areas where the indigenous vegetation has been retained. Some of the highest areas of the site are forested, particularly near Monte Gordo, where the trees are extensively coated with lichens due to the heavy rainfall and often misty weather.

Forests of Pinus, Eucalyptus, and Cupressus species dominate the park's vegetation. Euphorbia tuckeyana, Nauplius smithii, Echium stenosiphon, Sonchus daltonii, Aeonium gorgoneum, and Campanula jacobaea are some of the endemic plant species. The Chioninia nicolauensis, the Cape Verde wall gecko (Tarentola caboverdiana), the Fea's petrel (Pterodroma feae), and the Cape Verde warbler are among the fauna (Acrocephalus brevipennis). BirdLife International has designated the area as an Important Bird Area.

Elevation: 1,312 m

Location: the Cape Verdean island of So Nicolau