Comoros - Geography

The country is located in the north access of the Channel of Mozambique in Indian Ocean, on the shipping line of the giant tankers that carry crude from the Middle East to Europe and North America. Total land area is 1861 km2. Located at equal distance between Madagascar and the African continent (300 km), the islands are separated by deep oceanic trenches, 30 to 40 km wide. The islands are of volcanic origin and the last eruption on Grande Comore dates back to 1977.

Comoros in located between 11°20' and 13°04' south latitude and 43°11' and 45°19' east longitude. Some fringing coral reefs can be seen far from the volcanic effluent areas at the northern and southern ends of the island. Result of the dissection of the ancient volcano (West). This road with a high risk of pollution is among the giant oil tankers that transport crude oil from the Middle East to Europe and America. The island is also characterized by the cutting of its coasts and the presence of small bays to mangroves and a fringing coral reef surrounding the whole of the island.

The island of Grande Comore is characterized by its large areas of black flows coming from recent eruptions. At the three extremities of the islands there are indications of the beginning of a subsidence phenomenon. There are signs of subsidence in Foumbouni, North-West / South-East and North-South. This suggests either a temporary rise in sea level, and as in Anjouan. The resulting variability and spatialization of space is one of the important elements to be taken into account in the management and conservation of natural resources.

Anjouan shows a dissected pattern and a very rugged relief with sharp crests and steep sides. The central part corresponding to the volcano-shield is deeply notched by large circuses. This phenomenon is all the more marked as the islands are old and the rest periods between two phases have been long. The relief is less marked by the phenomena of erosion. In addition. Moheli is characterized by a rugged relief with sharp peaks.

The intense erosion that has occurred between two phases of volcanic activity and at different stages of the formation of islands has led to a great diversity of landscapes and geomorphological units. Or to a collapse of the island followed by a rise. East and down in coastal plains. Which culminates at more than 2300 m. Anjouan shows a dissected pattern and a very rugged relief with sharp crests and steep sides. In addition. Moheli is characterized by a rugged relief with sharp peaks. The intense erosion that has occurred between two phases of volcanic activity and at different stages of the formation of islands has led to a great diversity of landscapes and geomorphological units.

The Karthala Volcano is notoriously active, having erupted more than 20 times since the 19th century. The volcano rises to a height of 2,361 meters on the southern end of Grand Comore, the largest island in the nation of Comoros. Frequent eruptions have shaped the volcano's 3 by 4 kilometer summit caldera. Villagers on the island of Grand Comore returned home to ash-tainted water after the Karthala Volcano stopped erupting on April 19, 2005. The volcano began spewing ash and gas on April 17, forcing as many as 10,000 people to flee.