63 Comoros Facts To Know About The Volcanic Archipelago

Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Nov 22, 2022 By Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Originally Published on Dec 10, 2021
Edited by Lara Simpson
Fact-checked by Vikhaash Sundararaj
Comoros facts that talk about the volcanic archipelago are pretty engaging.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.2 Min

Discovered in 1505, Comoros is an island country located in the Indian Ocean and has Moroni as its capital on Grande Comore.

The official name of this tiny island country is the Union of Comoros. The country is located between the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and the eastern coast of Africa, leading Comoros to be considered part of Africa.

Comoros is considered the best place to view the humpback turtles on the East African Coast. Mozambique, Madagascar, and Seychelles surround Comoros. Comoros has agriculture as the main occupation with a mixed economic system. The title of 'Perfumed Islands' is also given to Comoros because of the beautiful scenic beauty and the enormous plant life.

Moroni, the capital city, which is also the largest city, has the modern facilities of manufacturing in the country. Subsistence farming is the primary source to rely on by the major citizens in Comoros.

If you find 63 Comoros facts to know about the volcanic archipelago interesting: you should also check out facts about Titicaca and facts about iceberg alley!

Fun Facts About Comoros

Comoros is considered one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with fewer than a million people. The main species are limited to bats and other marine animals due to the occurrence of various volcanic activities.

Comorian seas are one of the last remaining habitats of the coelacanth, known as living fossils, with some of their fossil remains dating back 400 million years. Civets, small lizards, and gigantic land crabs live on the islands. The growing human population has threatened a variety of wildlife species.

Grown in large quantities in Comoros, famed for the perfume drawn out from its blossoms, ylang-ylang has a divine value. Ylang-ylang, except for the natural resources, plays a significant role in the market of Comoros as its oil is used in perfume and for medicinal purposes.

Agriculture is the most important for livelihood in Comoros. Subsistence farming and fishing fulfill the necessities of Comoros citizens. International pressure and effort are considered the main reason behind the stability of peace and politics.

The largest coral atolls are found in Comoros with enormous fish species, corals, and shells. In Comoros Islands, the first protected area within their borders is the Moheli Marine Park. Scuba diving and snorkeling are on the top of every bucket list for Comoros as people get to watch giant turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, and marline. In Grande Comore, there is a lake in a volcanic crater that contains a lot of sulfur.

In the volcanic Comoros archipelago, three major islands and various small islands are present in the country. Low hills to steep mountains make up the interior of the islands vary. The climate is generally tropical and warm, with the rainy season, known as kashkazi, meaning north monsoon, lasting from December to April. The major islands are known by their French names (owing to past French rule) like Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli in the Mozambique Channel. The federal capital and the largest city is Moroni on Ngazidja.

Historical Facts About Comoros

When it comes to the history of islands, terms like colonization, Madagascan raids, slave trade, and sultanate battles come into the picture. Since the 8th century, Islam has always been the main religion in the country. Polynesian, Indonesian and Malay people are assumed to have been the earliest human inhabitants in the Comoros Islands. Between the 11th and 15th centuries, chiefdoms in Comoros became sultanates as more and more Muslims sought refuge on the islands. The era of sultanate conflicts was during which the slave trade was pretty frequent, and commerce was regarded as flourishing.

Comoros had self-government way before the independence in 1975 because of the main islands in an archipelago that is Mayotte, as the majority voted against the three other Islamic islands in independence. In 1841, the islands surrendered themselves to France but were in possession till 1912. Close relations with the Malagasy people were the main reason the islands were called a part of Madagascar then.

However, since their complete independence in 1975, the country went through various political turmoil for two and a half decades. The scenario only improved at the turn of the new century.

Did you know that Comoros or the Grande Comoro Islands was actually thought to have been created by jinni and that King Solomon reportedly visited this place?

Comoros has a diverse fauna of marine mammals.

Geographical Facts About Comoros

 In the Comoros Archipelago, three islands of volcanic origin: Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Moheli) and Nzwani (Anjouan, the second largest island) form the Union of Comoros. When it comes to area, Comoros is considered one of the smallest countries in the world, with 719 sq. mi (1861 sq km). The highest point of Comoros is an active volcano, Mount Karthala, at 7,746 ft (2,361 m) above sea level.

Since the 19th century, the Karthala volcano has erupted 20 times and is still considered the most active volcano. As mentioned above, Comoros is a place with the most extensive coral atolls with enormous fish species, corals, and shells.

Facts About Comoros' Culture

We have read about various aspects like the population, the capital city, the size of the country, volcanic activity, animal life, and many new and fascinating facts. But to learn about different countries and their history is also very important.

Comorians greatly admire music, art performances, and skillsets like pottery, sculpture, basketry, and embroidery. Comorians follow Islam as their religion and give huge significance to the family. The languages chosen on the islands are French, Arabic, Swahili, and Comorian, with African-Arabs forming the largest ethnic community.

The sale and production of jewelry are also made at a very excessive rate. Dance, singing, and the re-creation of popular and important literary pieces, such as war epics and tales about the origins of separate villages, are standard features of traditional Comoros festivals. The participants are dressed in embroidered ceremonial coats, Islamic bonnets, and drapes.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly factsfor everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 63 Comoros facts to know about the volcanic Archipelago, then why not take a look at Ghana facts or guinea facts?

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Written by Rajnandini Roychoudhury

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

Rajnandini Roychoudhury picture

Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature. 

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