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:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
2,235 sq km
country comparison to the world: 180
land:
2,235 sq km
water:
0 sq km
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
340 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
More Climate Details
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Karthala 2,360 m
NEGL
arable land:
44.06%
permanent crops:
31.17%
other:
24.77% (2011)
1.3 sq km NA (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
1.2 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%)
per capita:
16.86 cu m/yr (1999)
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore
volcanism:
Karthala (elev. 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
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel