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 |
Geographic coordinates | 12 10 S, 44 15 E |
Map references | Africa |
Area | total: 2,235 sq km land: 2,235 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries | total: 0 km |
Coastline | 340 km |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate | tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) |
Terrain | volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills |
Elevation extremes | highest point: Karthala 2,360 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m |
Natural resources | fish |
Land use | agricultural land: 84.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 46.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 29.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.1% (2018 est.) forest: 1.4% (2018 est.) other: 14.2% (2018 est.) |
Irrigated land | 1.3 sq km (2012) |
Total renewable water resources | 1.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Natural hazards | cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore volcanism: Karthala (2,361 m) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud |
Geography - note | important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021