Comoros, the

Comoros, the (kom'urōs) [key], officially Union of the Comoros (2005 est. pop. 671,000), 838 sq mi (2,170 sq km), occupying most of the Comoro Islands, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between Madagascar and Mozambique. The capital and largest city is Moroni. It is comprised of three main islands, Njazidja (or Ngazidja; also Grande Comore or Grand Comoros)—on which Moroni is located—Nzwani (or Ndzouani; also Anjouan), and Mwali (also Mohéli), and numerous coral reefs and islets. They are volcanic in origin, with interiors that vary from high peaks to low hills and coastlines that feature many sandy beaches. Njazidja is the site of an active volcano, Karthala, which, at 7,746 ft (2,361 m), is the islands' highest peak. The Comoros have a tropical climate with the year almost evenly divided between dry and rainy seasons; cyclones (hurricanes) are quite frequent. The islands once supported extensive rain forests, but most have been severely depleted.

The indigenous people are a mix of African, Arab, and Asian (mostly Indian and Malay) descent. Islam is the state religion (with Sunni predominating), and there is a sizable Roman Catholic minority. Arabic, French, and Comorian (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) are all official languages.

With few natural resources, poor soil, and overpopulation, the islands are one of the world's poorest nations. Some 80% of the people are involved in agriculture. Vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang (used in perfumes), and copra are the major exports; cassava and bananas are also grown. Rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, transport vehicles, and consumer goods are imported. The country is heavily dependent on France for trade and foreign aid. The Comoros is a member of the Franc Zone.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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