Geography of Comoros
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Cn-map.png
Map of all islands
Missing image
Comoros_in_relation_to_Afrika_map.jpg
Map of Comoros and Southern Africa
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Moheli_(Comoros)_map.jpg
Map of Moheli
Location:
Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique.
It consists of four islands, of which three form the independent Union of Comoros and one is the French territory of Mayotte. Each island has two names: Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Moheli (Mwali), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Mayotte (Mahore). The interior of the volcanic islands vary from steep mountains to low hills. Le Karthala (2316 m) on Grand Comore is an active volcano.
The Coelacanth fish, for long time thought to be extinct since the end of the Cretaceous, can be found in the waters surrounding the islands and are called gombessa by the local people.
Geographic coordinates: Template:Coor dm
Map references: Africa
Area:
total:
2,170 km²
land:
2,170 km²
water:
0 km²
Area - comparative: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 340 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land:
35%
permanent crops:
10%
permanent pastures:
7%
forests and woodland:
18%
other:
30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment - current issues: soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel