Comoros:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of the Comoros:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition Comoros has endured more than 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands, and each island maintains its own local government. AZALI won the 2002 Presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. AZALI stepped down in 2006 and President SAMBI took office. Since 2006, Anjouan's President Mohamed BACAR has refused to work effectively with the Union presidency. In 2007, BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants.

Location	Definition 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	Definition 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references	Definition Africa
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 2,170 sq km land: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 340 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate	Definition tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain	Definition volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources	Definition NEGL
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 35.87% permanent crops: 23.32% other: 40.81% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition NA
Total renewable water resources	Definition 1.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 0.01 cu km/yr (48%/5%/47%) per capita: 13 cu m/yr (1999)
Natural hazards	Definition cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment - current issues	Definition soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Environment - international agreements	Definition 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
Geography - note	Definition important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Comoros: Geography

Comoros:
Geography