Comoros
|
| Basic Facts |
| Country name |
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Union des Comores local short form: Comores |
| Gevernment type | republic |
| Capital |
name: Moroni
geographic coordinates: 11 41 S, 43 16 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Flag description | four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam |
| Currency | Comoran franc (KMF) |
| Internet country code | .km |
| Ports and terminals | Mayotte, Moutsamoudou |
| Agriculture products | vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) |
| Industries | fishing, tourism, perfume distillation |
| Geography |
| Location | Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique |
| Coordinates | 12 10 S, 44 15 E |
| Continent | Africa |
| Area |
total: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Boundaries | 0 km |
| Coastline | 340 km |
| Climate | tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) |
| Terrain | volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills |
| Natural resources | NEGL |
| Natural hazards | cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano |
| People |
| Population | 690,948 (July 2006 est.) |
| Ethnic groups | Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava |
| Religions | Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% |
| Languages | Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) |
