The Republic of Cape Verde consists of nine inhabited and several uninhabited volcanic islands off the western coast of Africa. Most are rugged and mountainous; three (Sal, Maio, and Boa Vista) are flat, desert islands with sand beaches. Praia, the capital, is on the island of Santiago, Sao Vicente and Boa Vista are considered the most beautiful islands of Cape Verde. Cape Verde?s major shipping port is Mindelo on the island of Sao Vicente. Portuguese is the official language and legal structures and banking systems are all based on the Portuguese model, giving that the islands were Portuguese until the 1970´s.