The annual population of Comoros is: Comoros: a brief description of the country

Union of Comoros – Island state V Indian Ocean between Madagascar and northern Mozambique, located on a volcanic archipelago.

The archipelago includes 4 main islands: Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Ndzuani ((Anjouan) And Mwali (Moheli), which make up the Union of Comoros, and the island Maore (Mayotte) has the status " overseas territory» France (residents of the island voted against independence from France). But the Comoros still claim it.

State symbols

Flag– is a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 3:5. On the left side of the flag, near the staff, a crescent and 4 stars are placed in a green triangle. The four stripes symbolize the four islands of the archipelago: yellow symbolizes Mwali, white – Mayotte, red – Anjouan, blue – Grande Comore. The four stars next to the crescent moon also symbolize the islands. The crescent symbolizes Islam, the main religion of the Comoros. The flag was approved on January 7, 2002.

Coat of arms. The central element of the coat of arms is the green Order of the Crescent. The crescent is positioned horizontally with its horns up (riding). Within the crescent there are 4 stars. The crescent moon is a traditional symbol of Islam, and the stars represent the islands that form the archipelago. Around the center is the name of the state in French and Arabic. Below is the national motto French: "Unity, Justice, Progress." The coat of arms was adopted in October 1978.

State structure

Form of government- presidential republic.
Head of State- the president. Elected once every 4 years, candidates are represented by one of three islands, one by one. There are also 3 vice presidents.

Incumbent since May 2011 Ikililu Duanin
Capital and The largest city - Moroni.
official languages– Comorian, French, Arabic.
Territory– 2,235 km²/1,862 km².
Administrative division– 4 autonomous islands, including Maore (Mayotte), controlled by France.

Population– 724,300 people. Ethno-racial composition: Antaloatra (mestizo people of Afro-Arab-Malagasy origin) more than 95%, Makua (Bantu blacks) 1.5%, Arabs 0.5%, Malagasy 0.5%, Persians, French, Indians (0.2 each %). Urban population 28%.
State religion- Sunni Islam.
Currency– Comorian franc.
Economy– one of the poorest countries in the world. Below the poverty level 60% of the population. Natural resources insignificant. Agriculture(80% of employees): vanilla, cloves, ylang-ylang, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca); fishing. Industry: perfumes. Export: vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra. Import: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, vehicles.

Education– 9 years of education required. Children receive primary education from the age of 6 and last for 6 years. Partially elementary education can be obtained at a madrasah, where the Koran is studied in Arabic and the basics of hygiene and agricultural skills are taught.

Secondary education (7 years) begins at age 12 and takes place in two stages (4 and 3 years), but is not widespread.
Vocational training is poorly developed, and there are no universities in the country. The average literacy rate is 56.5%.
Sport– The most popular type is football. Comoros first took part in the Olympic Games in 1996 and has competed in every Summer Olympics since then. Never participated in the Winter Olympics. Athletes from this country have never won an Olympic medal.

Armed forces- consist of a small regular army and police of 500 people, as well as 500 members of the defense forces. A mutual defense treaty with France provides naval forces for defense territorial waters, Comorian military training and aerial surveillance. France maintains several senior officers in the Comoros government. France has a small naval base and a detachment of the foreign legion in Mayotte.

Nature

The central part of the islands, surrounded by coral reefs, is occupied by volcanic massifs; in the coastal areas there are narrow strips of plains. Many active and extinct volcanoes.

Highest point - active volcano Kartala(2361 m), located on the island. Grande Comore. Its last eruption occurred in September 2003.

Climate tropical, sea. There are permanent rivers only on the island of Anjouan. At the bottom of the craters of some extinct volcanoes there are freshwater lakes.
Many endemic species of plants and animals. In the upper part, the mountain slopes are covered with tropical forests: palm trees, the woody plant ylang-ylang (essential oil, a valuable perfume raw material, is obtained from its inflorescences), many vines, horsetails and tree ferns.

Ylang-ylang
The coast and the lower part of the mountain slopes are covered with savannah vegetation. There are orange trees, basil, vanilla, cloves, jasmine and cinnamon. Most green Island archipelago - Grande Comore.

Grande Comore Island
The fauna of Comoros is not very diverse: civets (carnivorous mammals), wild boars, green sea turtles, large bats, tenrecs (bristle-haired urchins) and endemic species of lemurs. There are a variety of reptiles: scorpions, chameleons, lizards (many geckos).

Coelacanth
There are a lot of fish and shellfish in the coastal waters. It happens coelacanth- the oldest fish known to science, previously considered extinct.

Comoros is home to one of the rarest animals on Earth - Livingston's fruit bat(Comorian flying fox), found on only 2 islands. Its wingspan is on average 1.4 m.

Tourism

First of all, in Comoros, tourists will find exotic nature, beautiful sandy beaches, picturesque mountain landscapes, spearfishing and a diverse, crowded atmosphere. Moroni is the bustling Comorian capital and the youngest and most populated city on the islands. Life in it is in full swing at any hour and at any minute; it is a real oriental city with a noisy Arab bazaar, where the entire life of local citizens is concentrated.

Moroni
Around the bazaar are neighborhoods with low white houses. This is a bright and very dynamic world. There are many ancient mosques in Moroni. Popular place– Medina port, the ancient Arab quarter.

Oranges and lemons grow in the courtyards of houses. Ships and fishing boats line the shores of the harbor. The city looks like some kind of Mediterranean port - with stone piers and crowded clusters of houses under tiled roofs, protruding from the greenery of orchards.

Mitsuje
City Mitsuje It is known for its woodworking workshops, where they make crafts, boxes, and carved doors from expensive local wood. The city is also famous for its ancient tombstones with elaborate ornaments.
In the city Mutsamudu(Nzwani Island (Anjouan) is home to the beautiful Sultan’s Palace and the picturesque Dziyankundre waterfalls. Also popular hiking around the old city of Hari-Ya-Muji, there are many ancient palaces of the 17th-18th centuries, in which the descendants of the sultans still live.
Distilleries and perfumeries in Bambao make rum, wines and perfumes from the fruit of ylang-ylang.

In the small village of Moya you can take a break from the benefits of civilization - there is a quiet beach protected by a reef, wonderful place for snorkeling. National holidays associated with Islamic religious traditions are also attractive to tourists.
For Europeans, the entire nature of Comoros is exotic.

Culture

It was formed and is developing mainly in accordance with Muslim traditions. Literature of spiritual and secular content in Arabic is widespread.
African traditions are expressed in music and dance, especially in the hinterlands of Anjouan and Grande Comore. A clear distinction between dances for men and women. Men's dances include kanza (African dance with sticks), merengue (dance with boxing elements), rassia (with sabers) and tam-tam-de-boeuf (with elements of bullfighting). Women's: African wahada (dances with a stupa), tari and Arabic dance with a shigona scarf.

Comorian cuisine is a bizarre mixture of culinary traditions of France, African and Arab countries.
Most of the dishes are prepared using meat and rice, fish and seafood, richly flavored with spices and herbs.
Vanilla and citrus fruits are used as seasoning for seafood.
Fresh vegetables and fruits are served with main courses, fruits and Arabic sweets for dessert. The most popular drinks: chilled juices, coffee and tea.

Sights of Comoros

Buni Beach

This " lost World» Grande Comore Island, although it is located only 46 km from the capital. Apart from the rustling of palm leaves and the rustling of the surf on the snow-white sand, there are no other sounds here. The shores of the island are mostly black rocky outcrops of volcanic rocks, where it is not very convenient to sunbathe and swim, but Buni Beach is a pleasant exception.

Lake Sal

Salt Lake. The lake is unique not only in its salty water, but also in the presence of a huge amount of algae in its water, which is why it changes color twice a day: from dark green to shimmering blue.

Old Friday Mosque (Moroni)

It was supposedly built in 1472, and since then services have been taking place there constantly. The temple is made of coral limestone. The striking features of traditional Arab architecture are visible in its appearance: arched galleries in two tiers, balustrades, a high carved border along the perimeter of the roof and a square minaret, topped with a green dome with the obligatory crescent. The Old Friday Mosque stands on the shore of Moroni Harbour.

Story

The results of archaeological excavations indicate that the island of Anjouan was inhabited back in the 5th century. n. e. In the 12th century. the archipelago came under the rule of the Kilwa Sultanate, created by the Arabs in east coast Africa (the territory of modern Tanzania).

The islands were first described in 1598 by the Dutch traveler K. Houtman. But the Portuguese who tried to settle here were driven out by the locals. After the collapse of Kilwa, numerous sultanates were at enmity with each other, and the influence of Islam, which was propagated by immigrants from Persia, increased.
Since the 1600s, the second wave of settlement of the islands began with people from Africa, the countries of the Arab East and the island of Madagascar. The archipelago was also a haven for pirates. Raids were carried out from Madagascar in order to capture slaves, which is why at the beginning of the 19th century. the island of Mayotte was practically depopulated and, together with the island of Moheli, was controlled by the rulers of Madagascar.

Colonial period

In 1841, France captured the island of Mayotte - from 1843 it became its protectorate. In 1886-1892. A protectorate was established over the islands of Anjouan, Grande Comore and Moheli. In 1909, the archipelago was officially declared a French colony, and in 1912 it was administratively annexed to Madagascar.
The colonists grew vanilla, cloves and coffee. The local elite collaborated with the colonial administration.
During World War II, British troops occupied the islands. According to the new constitution of France, in 1947 the status of its “overseas territory” was received.
Administrative center in 1968 it was moved from the city of Mamoudzou (Mayotte island) to the city of Moroni (Grande Comore island). The administration was headed by the High Commissioner.

Independence

In December 1974, a referendum on independence was held, in which the majority of residents of the archipelago spoke positively. But 64% of the population of the island of Mayotte voted against secession from France. On July 6, 1975, the independent Republic of Comoros (RCO) was proclaimed, controlling three islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli. The Chairman of the Government Council, Ahmed Abdallah, became President. This council was abolished, a parliament was formed, a constitution was adopted, and the Arabic names of the islands were restored.
In November 1975, Comoros was admitted to the UN as part of four islands as a single state. France, having recognized the independence of the RKO, unilaterally assigned the island of Mayotte the status of its “territorial unit”.

Ali Sualih
On August 3, 1975, a bloodless coup d'état took place and Ali Sualikh came to power. He proclaimed the course of “national socialism”: the nationalization of large land holdings and property, the introduction of planning in the economy, the abolition of Sharia law and limiting the influence of the Muslim clergy, the dissolution of political parties. The anti-Islamic direction of the government's policy led to destabilization of the situation in the country. The state found itself in conditions of international isolation.
In May 1978, a new coup took place, led by the French mercenary Bob Denard. Ali Sualikh was killed, power again passed to A. Abdallah.
In 1978, the country was renamed the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros, and Islam was declared the state religion. On December 6, 1979, the UN General Assembly recognized the rights of the state of Comoros to the island of Maore (Mayotte).
In November 1989, a coup took place, during which A. Abdallah was killed. Then the presidents were re-elected several times.
The deteriorating economic situation (including due to the fall in world prices for vanilla and cloves) and separatism destabilized the situation in the country. A new military coup took place on April 30, 1999. Colonel Azali Assoumani came to power.
A new constitution in 2001 gave the islands greater autonomous rights. The country became known as the Union of Comoros (UCO). According to the 2001 constitution, Comoros retains claims to the island of Maore (Mayotte), considering it an integral part and one of the 4 autonomous islands of the state of the Union of Comoros.

Comoros is a small but very proud island state, comfortably located in the Indian Ocean next to famous island Madagascar.

This small African country includes three islands, and the fourth, Maore, is considered the property of France, but in fact is something like Russian Kamchatka, traveling from country to country like a passing red banner.

The capital of the Comoros Islands (and also the largest city in the state, whose population does not exceed 40,000) - Moroni - has chosen the most large island archipelago (Ngazidju, or Grande Comore).

Comoros is a constitutional state led by a president and parliament. There is even a regular army here - however, it has only 1,000 people (including police), but this is more than enough, because the country's population does not exceed 800,000 people (even if we take into account the controversial Maore, the number will still be less million).

The islands are inhabited mainly by the Antaloatra (Afro-Arab) people, or Comorians, who make up almost 95% of the country's total population. The remaining five percent includes Bantu blacks, Arabs, Malagasy, Persians, Indians and French. And although official languages French and Arabic are considered here; the majority of residents speak their native Comorian (something like a mixture of Swahili and Arabic). By the way, although most of Comorians consider themselves adherents of Islam; on the islands you can meet followers of almost any faith.

IN geographically The Comoros are mountainous islands of volcanic origin, surrounded by numerous beautiful corals, among which live strange sea creatures found nowhere else in the world. The climate here is tropical, so it is hot, muggy and humid all year round. If you go on a trip here, then think about special vaccinations in advance, because there is a very high risk of catching malaria here.
By the way, it is on the Comoros Islands that you can meet one of the rarest animals on our planet: the Livingston fruit bat, or the Comorian flying fox (most similar to a cute bat). In addition, here you can find many rare plants that thrive in such a warm climate.

Despite its exotic nature, as if preserved since the separation of the continents, Comoros is not a developed tourist center: Moreover, travel here is so rare that you will have to work hard to get here.

Cultural characteristics

The multinationality of the Comoros does not prevent them from considering themselves an Islamic state in the literal sense of the word.

Most local traditions are associated precisely with Islam (which is distinguished here by a tolerance that is surprising for neighboring countries), supplemented by some African and Indian elements: for example, Comorians are terribly afraid of various genies - evil spirits, which, it would seem, have nowhere to come from in the realities of the Islamic world (but they appear from a completely different fairy tale and make the hearts of children and adults tremble).

The architecture of the islands displays the same intercultural eclecticism that distinguishes the entire culture as a whole: it is an amazingly beautiful vinaigrette from Arab, Persian, African and Indian traditions.

It is interesting that to this day the richer Comorians try to build their homes in exactly this style - in memory of their ancestors.

Kitchen

Traditional Comorian cuisine is a whimsical and colorful mixture of dishes from almost all the peoples living in this territory.

The most popular dishes here are a wide variety of rice, meat or poultry and a variety of aromatic spices.

Unsweetened bananas are often added to them, giving the dishes a unique local flavor.
The most multinational product here is bread. You can find French baguettes, Indian chapatis and a variety of flatbreads.

Famous local kitchen and its seafood, which takes up almost half the space on Comorians’ tables.

Here they are generously flavored with vanilla and citrus fruits, which gives the dishes an amazing taste and aroma.
And since ancient times, traditional Arabic delicacies have been considered the favorite desserts on the Comoros Islands.

Shopping

The Comoros Islands certainly cannot be called the center of world shopping, but here you can find products that are popular all over the world. Some spices (such as vanilla and cloves) and plants used for cosmetic purposes are grown on the islands.

In addition, perfumes are made here based on natural ingredients (for example, ylang-ylang). It is also worth noting that Comoros is considered one of the poorest countries on our planet - it is unlikely that they will be able to surprise you with masterpieces of manufactures or crafts.

Visa

Few people know what interesting things there are in the Comoros Islands and where they are located. If the answer to the first question can only be given by the traveler himself, then the second is easy to answer - the archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, more precisely, in the northern part of the Mozambique Channel between continental Africa and Madagascar. So Comoros is also essentially Africa. The full name of the country is the Union of Comoros. A visa is required to visit the archipelago, but can be obtained upon arrival in the country. For how long can I get a visa on arrival? For 24 hours and 45 days. Validity of the passport The passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry. Are additional documents required for entry? As a rule, immigration officers are not interested in hotel reservations or financial resources, but return tickets or tickets to a third country are required, and in printed form. What fees are charged to tourists? Within 24 hours transit visa There are no fees, for a visa for 45 days - 30 EUR (or 50 USD). What documents are required to obtain a visa on arrival?... Read more

How to get there?

Get to the Comoros Islands from Mainland possible by flights Air Madagascar(from Antananarivo), Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa) and...

Basic moments

The largest volcano is Kartala (2361 m), located on the island of Grande Comore. The central part of each island is occupied by a mountainous volcanic massif, gently descending towards the narrow coastal lowlands. Lava fields, craters, black basalt blocks, caves create a unique, almost unearthly landscape. Lifeless ridges of volcanic mountains contrast with ocean-facing forested slopes and green coastal plains fringed by coral sand beaches.

The climate is hot and humid: average monthly temperatures are 24–27 °C, annual precipitation ranges from 1100 mm in the central regions of the islands to 3000 mm on the slopes and coastal plains.

Tropical high-trunk forests on the slopes abound with special local species of plants and animals: colorful huge tree ferns, large club mosses and horsetails; on the edges you can see lemurs, tenrecs, civets (mammals, which include mongooses). In the waters surrounding the Comoros Islands, lobe-finned fish - coelacanths, which lived in the ocean 400 million years ago, were caught.

Ethnic composition The population (about 900 thousand people) is very diverse, but the majority is the Antaloatra people, formed as a result of the mixing of the descendants of Arabs with Malagasy and Bantu. Residents of the Comoros Islands are mainly engaged in agriculture (one of the main crops grown is vanilla, as well as other spices). The applied art of the Comorians, which developed under the influence of Muslim culture, is represented by richly ornamented wooden products inlaid with mother-of-pearl and copper. The capital and the most Big city archipelago - Moroni (Grand Comore Island). There are many ancient mosques here, but the main attraction of the city is the large, bright and colorful bazaar.

Geography

In the volcanic archipelago of the Comoros Islands, four main islands: Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Nzwani (Anjouan) and Mwali (Moheli) make up the Republic of Comoros, and the island of Maore (Mayotte) has the status of an “overseas territory” of France, since he voted against independence from France, but is still claimed by Comoros. The island of Anjouan shows separatist sentiments and even announced the creation of an offshore zone, which was not recognized by the official authorities of the Comoros Islands.

The highest point is the active volcano Kartala (2,361 m). The islands are mountainous (height up to 2560 m). Surrounded by coral reefs. The climate is tropical, humid and hot. Precipitation is from 1100 to 3000 mm per year. The upper parts of the mountain slopes are covered with dense tropical forests; below are savannas and bushes. There is a risk of contracting malaria all year round.

Story

O. Anjouan (according to archaeological excavations) was inhabited back in the 5th century. AD In the 12th century The archipelago came under the rule of the Kilwa Sultanate, created by the Arabs on the east coast of Africa (the territory of modern Tanzania). The islands were first described in 1598 by the Dutch traveler K. Houtman. An attempt by the Portuguese on their way to India to settle on the islands in the 1610s failed due to resistance from the local inhabitants. After the collapse of Kilwa, there were numerous sultanates warring among themselves, and the influence of Islam, implanted by immigrants from Shiraz (Persia), increased. Since 1600, the second wave of settlement of the islands began by people from Africa, the countries of the Arab East, Indonesia and Madagascar. The archipelago was also a haven for pirates, who brought captured Indians and Chinese here. Since 1785, in order to capture slaves, raids were carried out from the island of Madagascar, which is why at the beginning of the 19th century. The island of Mayotte was practically depopulated and, together with the island of Moheli, was controlled by the rulers of Madagascar.

In 1841 France captured the island of Mayotte and from 1843 it became its protectorate. In 1886–1892, a protectorate was established over the islands of Anjouan, Grande Comore and Moheli. Since 1909, the archipelago was officially declared a French colony, and in 1912 it was administratively annexed to the island of Madagascar. The colonists' farms were based on the cultivation of vanilla, cloves and coffee. The local elite worked closely with the colonial administration. After occupation by British troops during World War II, according to the new constitution of France in 1947, France received the status of an “overseas territory”. In 1957 the Government Council was established (in 1961 it was headed by a native of the country S.M. Sheikh), and in 1961 the elected Chamber of Deputies was established. Local self-government (except for issues of finance, defense and external relations) was introduced in 1968. The administrative center in 1968 was moved from Dzaoudzi (Mayotte Island) to Moroni (Grand Comore Island). The administration was represented by the High Commissioner. The first political organizations, representing different groups of the Muslim aristocracy, arose in 1962: “Democratic Union of the Comoros” (DSCO, created by S.M. Sheikh) - the so-called. the "Green Party" (the party of senior civil servants) and the "Democratic Rally of the Comorian People" (MLC), called the "White Party" or "Party of the Princes". In 1963, the Comorian community in Tanganyika created the Movement for the National Liberation of the Comoros Islands (MOLINACO), recognized by the OAU as the leader of the national liberation movement on the islands. Its branch, the Party for the Evolution of Comoros (PEC), has operated on the archipelago since 1970. In 1972, the People's Party (Umma) was created on the island of Grande Comore. In the referendum on the independence of the archipelago (December 1974), 96% of the residents of the islands of Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli voted for its separation from France, and 64% of the population of Mayotte voted against it. On July 6, 1975, the Chamber of Deputies unilaterally proclaimed the independent Republic of the Comoros (RCO) consisting of the islands of Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli. The Chairman of the Government Council, Ahmed Abdallah, became President. This council was abolished, a parliament was formed, a constitution was adopted and the Arabic names of the islands were restored. In November 1975, Comoros was admitted to the UN as part of four islands as a single state. France, having recognized the independence of the RKO, assigned the island of Mayotte the status of its “territorial unit”.

As a result of a bloodless coup d'etat on August 3, 1975, Ali Sualikh came to power, proclaiming the course of the so-called. “national socialism”: nationalization of large land holdings and property of French colonists expelled from the country, introduction of planning into the economy, abolition of Sharia law and limitation of the influence of the Muslim clergy, dissolution of political parties. The anti-Islamic direction of the government's policy led to destabilization of the situation in the country. RKO found itself in conditions of international isolation. In May 1978, a new coup took place, led by the French mercenary B. Denard (A. Sualikh was killed, power again passed to A. Abdallah). The activities of the administrative apparatus, private French and local companies, land was returned to large owners, foreign investment was encouraged, and diplomatic relations with France were restored. According to the 1978 constitution, the country was renamed the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros (FIRCO) (French République Fédérale Islamique des Comores; lang-ar), the parliament became the Federal Assembly, and Islam was declared the state religion. After the introduction of a one-party system (1979), the only party was the ruling “Comorian Union for Progress” (“Ujima”, created in 1982).The authoritarianism of the regime of A. Abdallah, re-elected in 1984 (99% of the vote), and the suppression of any opposition views led in November 1989 to a coup, during which he was killed. The 1990 presidential elections were held in a multi-party environment (14 legal parties were created). Said Mohamed Johar was elected president (55.3% of the votes). Constant confrontation between parties contributed to a new coup in September 1995, carried out by foreign mercenaries. In 1996–1998, the presidential post was held by Mohamed Taqi Abdulkarim The new constitution (1996) established the existence of a multi-party system and Islam as the state religion. After the death of the president, T. Massunde took this post. The deteriorating economic situation (including due to the fall in world prices for vanilla and cloves) and separatism (unilateral declaration of independence by the islands of Anjouan and Moheli in 1997) destabilized the situation in the country. As a result of the military coup on April 30, 1999, Colonel Azali Assoumani came to power. In 2001, government troops prevented attempted military coups on the islands of Anjouan and Moheli. After a referendum was held in April 2002, a new constitution was approved, which provided the islands with broader autonomous rights. The country became known as the Union of Comoros (UCO). In the presidential elections on April 14, 2002 (postponed several times and held in two rounds), A. Assoumani won. In March-April of the same year, the presidents of the islands of Ajouan and Mohéli were elected. The opponent of A. Assoumani, A.S. Elbak (63% of the votes), was elected president of Grande Comore in May 2002.

Economy

The Comoros Islands are one of the poorest countries in Africa. Main income items: export of ylang-ylang (the world's largest exporter), vanilla (the world's second largest exporter after Madagascar); tourism, fishing.

Capital: Moroni (Grand Comore Island).

Population: About 550 thousand people. Most of the inhabitants belong to the Antaloatra people, formed as a result of the mixing of the descendants of Arabs with Malagasy and Bantus.

Language: French and Arabic, the Comorran language, a mixture of Swahili and Arabic, is widely used.

Religion: About 86% are Sunni Muslims, the rest are Catholics.

Geography: The Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros is located in the Indian Ocean on an archipelago of four islands at the northern entrance to the Mozambique Channel. The islands of Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Njuani (Anjouan) and Mwali (Moheli) make up the Republic of Comoros, while the island of Maore (Mayotte or Mayotte) has the status of an “overseas territory” of France. The islands are mountainous (height up to 2560 m) and have many active and extinct volcanoes. The total area of ​​the FIRK is 2.23 thousand square meters. km.

Climate: Tropical, quite hot and humid, with two distinct seasons: warmer and humid from November to April, and cool and dry the rest of the year. Average monthly temperatures range from + 24 C to +27 C, annual precipitation falls from 1100 mm. in the central regions of the islands up to 3000 mm. on mountain slopes and coastal plains. The wet season from November to April is not a very good time to visit the Comoros Islands - the heat is sweltering and the humidity reaches 100%. Best time to visit is during the cooler period between May and October, when most of the islands have an almost perfect climate, the air does not warm above 25 C, is rich in the aroma of flowering ylang-ylang, carnations, cinnamon and vanilla, and is constantly refreshed by the ocean trade winds. But sometimes during this period the weather can deteriorate sharply, which is associated with the arrival of monsoon winds and cyclones from the ocean.

Political state: Federal Islamic Republic, federation of 3 islands: Ngazija (Grande Comore), Njuani (Anjouan) and Mwali (Moheli). The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. Legislative power belongs to the Federal Assembly. The islands of Anjouan and Moheli are in constant confrontation with the central government, they even declared independence in 1997, leaving Grande Comore as the only “remnant” of the FIRK. Since 1999, intense negotiations have been ongoing between all parties interested in preserving the federation, but they are periodically interrupted by civil unrest and riots, mainly on the island of Anjouan.

Currency: Comorian franc (CF). The best place to exchange currency is Banque Internacional des Comores (BIC) - a fairly efficient bank that exchanges all currencies, but it is best to have French francs with you. There are several BIC branches in both Moroni and Mutsamudu. In addition, you can exchange currency in supermarkets, hotels and restaurants, but the exchange rate there is much worse. Credit cards and travel checks are practically not used, although they can still be used in the same BIC. It is customary to bargain in markets and small shops; there is a whole system of trading etiquette that can help significantly reduce prices. The process should be leisurely, and carried out in a spirit of mutual admiration for the skill of the trade. Hostile or agitated offers will only increase the price of the item. Tipping is not accepted, although in more “French” areas tips are still up to 5%; however, for good service, it is possible to leave the service staff any amount at the guest’s discretion.

Time: In winter it corresponds to Moscow, in summer it lags behind by 1 hour.

Main attractions: The islands are known for their supernatural and unique wildlife, which has “mastered” these ancient lands ( local residents they call them “terra firma”) with numerous lava fields and chaos of rocks, a magnificent “local” Moon, because of the beauty of which Arab sources even called these islands “Lunar”, seaports, always crowded with white “dhows” of fishermen and yachts of tourists and the colorful history of sultans and soothsayers, planters and oriental princesses. In natural terms, the islands are often called a real “underwater Jurassic Park.” In 1938, a local museum curator found a strange animal in a local resident's fishing basket.

Subsequently, this find glorified the archipelago, became its “calling card” and is depicted on Comoros postage stamps - it was the famous coelacanth (coelacanth), the oldest fish known to science from the superorder of lobe-finned fish, which lived in the Devonian period (about 380 million years ago) and was considered extinct . Despite all this charm, Comoros remains the least visited and least developed in terms of tourism of all the islands in the region. This is due to the islands' reputation as a "tourist swamp" due to poor leisure infrastructure and has something to do with the constant political upheavals, civil unrest and conspiracies that occur here with seasonal precision.

Moroni, located on the island of Grande Comore or Ngazidja, also known as Port aux Boutres, is the youngest but also the largest city in the Comoros Islands. There are many ancient mosques in the capital, but the main attraction of the city is the large, bright and colorful bazaar. The architecture of the city itself could guarantee the visit of the Comoros by thousands of tourists - in the old Arab Quarter (quarter) or Medina, the origin of the population of the Comoros clearly reveals itself with two-story buildings in the Arabic style, which literally bristled with numerous galleries, balustrades, beautifully carved wooden door bars and shutters. Medina is located on the west coast and is considered one of the best "assets" of the island.

The harbor is lined with numerous stone piers and boats that stretch in parallel lines for almost 6 kilometers, giving the port a more Mediterranean than African appearance, which is further emphasized by the layout of the city, as if specially created to give the sun more access to the courtyards of the houses, framed by thickets oranges and maroon.

The walk from the port of the Medina, with its labyrinth of small winding streets, shop fronts, tiny steep alleys between buildings dating back to the times of Swahili rule in the Arab Quarter, is quite easy and pleasant.

From the north, a couple of the city's main streets converge on Ave des Minsteres square, which, as it were, completes the path around the port bay. Many hotels and bungalows with restaurants and cafes are located to the north of the city, but unfortunately only one or two cafes in Moroni itself have a view of the harbor, which is depressing for many tourists. Many routes lead from the city to majestic waterfalls, through lush rainforests or to beautiful deserted shores.

There are many beautiful coastlines and beaches in the Itsandra and Ngwala area of ​​Grande Comore, but the hotels have a completely primitive appearance and this will ruin the most wonderful experience.

The interior of the island of Grande Comore itself is a rocky massif with grassy plains and remnants of rainforest, and the Mount Carthala volcano is active and still spews lava and ash quite often. The plains slope down to the coastline, where palm trees line shores of black lava or white sand, and the young Coral reefs stretch along the coast. West Coast The island has every kind of resort you could want, with suites and casinos, bars and French restaurants, but all this was built a long time ago and has already lost some of its former luster. Coastline on the east side the Grande Comore is wilder and more undeveloped than on the west.

One of best places for a holiday on the east coast - Buni Beach in the north-eastern part of the island. Once the capital of the Hamahama Sultanate, it is now a quiet village with two stunning beaches. Somewhat further south along the coast lies the town of Somoni, whose sheltered bay has an unusual combination of mottled black lava surrounding rocks and white sandy shores, and the local bungalows are probably best choice vacation spots.

In the southeastern corner of the coast is the city of Fumbuni, the third largest city on Grande Comore. Sands local beach Whiter and brighter than anywhere else on the island, even Moroni or Itsandra, it is also one of the best diving spots in Comoros. The town of Mitsuje is 11 km away. south of Moroni, is good place, to purchase unique local crafts, carved with considerable skill from different types of wood.

The city is primarily known for its woodworking workshops - the main branch of the local industry, specializing in the creation of decorative "oriental" doors, shutters, boxes and furniture, as well as famous and magnificent carvings - local products such as candlesticks and small memorial plaques made of precious wood are famous. By the way, there are actually a lot of tombstones in Mitsuja - the local cemeteries are vast and beautiful, but there are serious reasons for this.

The people of Mitsuje believe that they are protected from the jinn by the spirit of a saint who was buried in the nearby village of Ikoni. Legend has it that the saint promised protection and patronage to the village where his grave would be.

The residents of Mitsuje stole his body from Ikoni and buried it in their city, and so that no one could steal the relics of the saint from them, they built many false, completely identical graves in order to confuse both the jinn and potential thieves. Mwali (Moheli) is the smallest, wildest and least visited of all the Comoros islands. Even the gorgeous inland rainforests, white beaches, and perfect tan you can get here in just a couple of days don't make up for the island's distinct lack of industry, goods, development, and government attention. There are only a few places where it is worth staying, but only if you have a tent and a large company: beautiful shores Kawe Hoani, Domoni, Miringoni and Niumachua.

The capital of Moheli is Fomboni, but it is too remote and poor a town to waste time on, it is more of a “sleepy village” than a bustling capital. The island of Njuani (Anjouan) is famous for its forests and rivers, literally “tumbling” along numerous rapids in a sea of ​​green trees, plantations of the exotic ylang-ylang palm tree, thickets of jasmine, cassique, basil and orange scattered throughout the island. This small piece of land could indeed serve as a living advertisement for tourists, but in reality it is the most densely populated place of all the Comoros islands, which is clearly visible from soil erosion and cleared forests. The capital of Anjouan, Mutsamudu, consists of practically two main parallel streets, connected by a labyrinth of paths, alleys, shops and stone stairs. Near the Mosque du Vendredy lies the Sultan's Palace, and within easy walking distance of the city center are the picturesque Dziyankundre waterfalls.

There are a variety of walking tours on the island, the most interesting of which traverse the islands from coast to coast. Also good are coral reefs and white sandy shores in Shiroroni and a unique distillery in Bamboa, where good quality rum and wine are made from ylang-ylang fruits. A very popular walking tour is around the old town - Hari-ya-Muji and to Domoni. Hari-ya-Muji is full of old crumbling palaces built by sultans in the 16th and 18th centuries, and the descendants of these sultans still live in these very palaces in noble, if shabby, disrepair.

The small, quiet village of Moya is a typical place where you can “fall out of existence” and take a break from the benefits of civilization - it is so remote from the world. The village has a fantastic beach, the view of which can be used as a backdrop for numerous "tropical" films about " island paradise“—it is protected by a magnificent reef, which in turn offers incredible snorkeling opportunities. There is even a small local hotel here - the only place in the village where you can stop for a rest, but here the guest will be offered a “banquet” of seafood that the best restaurant chefs will not prepare, and always on the veranda with a colorful sunset - one of the main local attractions.

One of the most ancient and untouched areas of the Comoros Islands - small island Chissiou-Owenefou not far from south coast Moheli, near Niumachua. This former leper colony has a beautiful sand beach at the southern end of the island which is ideal for good camping, and offers an excellent vantage point for observing the green sea turtle, which almost disappeared from the face of the Earth, but a couple of years ago its population began to recover again and the site is now under international protection. A couple of days of sailing, fishing, walking around the island and watching a turtle, as well as spending the night under open air attract even more people here than to neighboring Moheli.

All festive events in the Comoros are associated with Islamic church holidays. A unique Comorian tradition is the “Gran Mariage” (“Big Wedding”). This is usually a pre-planned union between an older man and a younger woman, where the groom must pay for all the festivities for guests from the entire village for 18 days (the so-called “toirab”). He must also buy an expensive dowry for his bride, which must include expensive clothes, gold and jewelry. Such a wedding often leaves the groom in poverty for the rest of his life, but the fact is that villagers will award wisdom and social status to the groom precisely for the level of the wedding. As compensation for possible poverty, the groom receives the right to wear a special "m"ruma belt, which proves his privileged status as a warrior and a man. The tradition of "Grand Mariage" is also reserved for most of the noble members of society, and is used to mark their social and political situation.

Entry rules: A visa is required for all travelers entering the Comoros Islands and is valid for 30 days from the date of entry into the country. Visas Can be obtained upon arrival directly at the airport or at the port customs point, the visa is paid on site in French francs. Required documents- a valid passport, invitation or paid tour, as well as a return ticket. Children under 16 years of age are included in the passport of their parents (mother). There are no restrictions on movement around the country for Russian citizens. No vaccinations are required, but malaria vaccination is recommended.

Customs regulations: There are no restrictions on the import or export of foreign and local currency. The import of: weapons (including pneumatic and spearfishing), vegetables, fruits, plants, non-canned meat and meat products, printed and video products that contradict Islamic norms is prohibited. The export of: shells, corals and products made from tortoiseshell is prohibited.

Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros

The name of the country comes from the Arabic Jebel el-Comor - “lunar islands”.

Capital of Comoros. Moroney.

Area of ​​Comoros. 1862 km2.

Population of Comoros. 788,000 people (

Comoros GDP. $623.8 million (

Location of Comoros. Comoros is a state consisting of a group of islands located in the northern part of the strait, between the African mainland and the island. consists of four main islands: Grande Comore, Moheli, Anjouan, Mayotte (the latter is considered French territory).

Administrative divisions of the Comoros. Comoros is a federation of 3 islands: Ngazija (Grande Comore), Njuani (Anjouan) and Mwali (Moheli).

Form of government of Comoros. Republic.

Head of State of Comoros. President, elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme legislative body of the Comoros. Unicameral Parliament (Federal Assembly).

Higher executive agency Comoros. Government.

Major cities in Comoros. Mutsamudu.

Official language of Comoros. Comorian, French, Arabic.

Religion of Comoros. 86% are Sunni Muslims, 14% are .

Ethnic composition of Comoros. Arabs, Africans, Malagasy.

Currency of Comoros. Comorian franc = 100 centimes.

Flora of the Comoros. Tropical forests grow in the upper parts of the mountain slopes, and shrub thickets are located below. Sugar cane, coconut palm, banana, coffee tree, and cloves are cultivated on the land.

Fauna of the Comoros. Comoros is home to one of the rarest animals on Earth - the Livingston's bat. Lemurs, tenrecs, and mongooses live here. In coastal waters, lobe-finned fish were caught - caecalates, which were found in the ocean 400 million years ago.

Rivers and lakes of the Comoros. There are no permanent ones. In extinct craters there are freshwater lakes. Attractions. Several mosques in Moroni.

Useful information for tourists

The islands are known for their supernatural and unique wildlife, which has “mastered” these ancient lands (locals call them “terra firma”) with numerous lava fields and chaos of rocks, a magnificent “local”, because of the beauty of which Arab sources even called these islands “ Lunar and seaports, always crowded with white “dhows” of fishermen and yachts of tourists, and the colorful history of sultans and fortune tellers, planters and oriental princesses.

A unique Comorian tradition is the "Gran Mariage" or "Big Wedding". This is usually a pre-planned union between a fairly mature man and a young woman, where the groom must pay for all the festivities for guests from all over the village for 18 days (called "toirab"). He is also required to buy an expensive dowry for the bride, which should include rich clothes, gold and jewelry. Such a wedding often leaves the groom in poverty for the rest of his life, but the fact is that the villagers will consider the groom wise and award him social status precisely for the level of the wedding. As compensation for possible poverty, the groom receives the right to wear a special “mruma” belt, which proves his privileged status as a warrior and a man. The tradition of "Grand Mariage" is also reserved for most of the noble members of society and is used to mark their social and political position.