Comoros Islands - Geography

Geography

The Comoros are located in the Mozambique Channel to the north-west of Madagascar and facing Mozambique. These volcanic islands, covering a total area of 2034 km², are:

• Ngazidja (or Grande Comore): the largest island, with the capital of the Union of the Comoros, Moroni
• Ndzwani (or Anjouan)
• Mwali (or Mohéli)
• Maore (or Mayotte): under French administration, and including
• Pamanzi (or Petite Terre) Mayotte's second-largest island. Supports Mayotte's only airport in Dzaoudzi
• Banc Vailheu, or Raya, lies 20 km west of Grande Comore, is within 7m of the surface at low tide.

Two islets, have been considered part of this archipelago, by various sources, and at different times:

• The Banc du Geyser, a reef measuring 8 by 5 km in area, some parts of which are emergent, situated 130 km Northe North-East of Mayotte. It is claimed by Comoros, France and Madagascar.
• The Glorioso Islands (French Îles Glorieuses) were administratively attached to the archipelago before 1975, and, geologically speaking, form a part of the archipelago.

In addition, between Madagascar and Mayotte, there is the Banc du Leven, a former island which is submerged these days.

The affinity between the Comorian flora and the Madagascan flora is certain. The presence of the Banc du Leven, along about one hundred kilometres to the extreme north-west of Madagascar between the Montagne d'Ambre and the archipelago could partly explain this affinity. In fact, this bank with a tabular appearance presents coralligenous sediments which can be attributed to the presence of a coral reef during the Würm glaciation.

— Callmander, M.W. 2002. Biogéographie et systématique des Pandanaceae de l’Océan Indien occidental. Doctoral Thesis, University of Neuchâtel, 253 p.

Politically, the islands are currently divided into two entities:

• The Comoros, a sovereign state
• Mayotte, an overseas department of France

The Union of the Comoros is recognized as including the three northernmost islands. Anjouan and Mohéli declared their independence in 1997, however these unilateral declarations of independence received no international recognition and were later rescinded. Grande Comore is the youngest of the islands, and has a massive active volcano on it, which scientists predict is likely to erupt in the near future.