Cova (crater)

{{Short description|Volcanic caldera in Cape Verde}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Cova

| photo = Ribeira do Paul - Cova Krater 1176 HM.ü.NN 02.JPG

| photo_caption = Inside the Cova Crater

| elevation_m = 1166

| elevation_ref = {{in lang|pt}} [http://www.idecv.gov.cv/index.php/pt/destaques2/42-visor Cabo Verde Visor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907004302/http://www.idecv.gov.cv/index.php/pt/destaques2/42-visor |date=2018-09-07 }}

| prominence_m =

| prominence_ref=

| map = Cape Verde

| map_caption =

| label_position = top

| listing = List of mountains in Cape Verde

| location = east-central Santo Antão

| coordinates = {{Coord|17.1077|-25.0627|display=it}}

| coordinates_ref =

| topo =

| type = Stratovolcano

| age =

| first_ascent =

| easiest_route = hiking, dirt road

}}

Cova is a volcanic caldera in the east-central part of the island of Santo Antão in Cape Verde. 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. It forms a part of Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park.[http://www.areasprotegidas.gov.cv/images/Parques%20Naturais_pdf.pdf Parques Naturais], Áreas protegidas Cabo Verde The Cova formation dates from between 1.4 million and 700,000 years ago.{{cite work|last=Holm|first=Paul Martin|title=Sampling the Cape Verde Mantle Plume: Evolution of Melt Compositions on Santo Antão, Cape Verde Island|publisher=|volume=47|year=2006|number=1|page=145-18|doi=10.1093/petrology/egi071}}

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.[http://www.portaldoconhecimento.gov.cv/bitstream/10961/1973/1/Consultoria%20em%20Gest%C3%A3o%20de%20Recursos%20Naturais%20%E2%80%93%20%C3%81reas%20Protegidas%20Santo%20Ant%C3%A3o.pdf Consultoria em Gestão de Recursos Naturais], Isildo Gomes, p. 17-30 There is a small village in the crater (population 10 at the 2010 census),{{cite web|url=http://ine.cv/censo_quadros/santo-antao/|title=2010 Census results Santo Antão|work=Instituto Nacional de Estatística Cabo Verde|date=24 November 2016|language=Portuguese}} part of the settlement Cabo da Ribeira.