Comoros

Named after the Arabic word for 'moon', Qamar, the Comoros islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Indian Ocean located off Africa's east coast and south of the Equator. Comoros is located on the Somali plate. They are also known as the 'perfumed islands', owing to fragrant plants, such as, frangipani, jasmine and lemongrass. The country consists of three main islands surrounded by coral reefs. The islands are Grande Comore, Mohéli and Anjouan, and the largest island (Grande Comore), is dominated by Karthala, a towering 2 360 m high volcano whose summit is almost constantly smothered in equatorial cloud. In April 2005, the volcano began spewing ash and gas, forcing as many as 10 000 people to flee.

The Comoro Islands have a humid, tropical climate. Monthly average temperatures range from 24 to 27 °C and the annual rainfall is around 1 600 mm, with the wettest time of the year lasting from January to March. The rainfall varies between the three islands due to differences in altitude and winds. During the humid rainy season, especially between January to April, tropical cyclones are a risk. -—
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—- The islands are also prone to heavy rains and flash floods. The islands are cooled by south‐easterly trade winds during the dry season.

Subsistence farming and fishing are the main source of employment, partly due to low educational levels. Agriculture also accounts for almost one third of GDP in Comoros. Comoros is the world's principal producer of ylang‐ylang essence, extracted from flowers of a tree. Export income is heavily reliant on ylang‐ylang and two other main crops: vanilla and cloves, and remains vulnerable to extreme weather. Important export partners include India, France and Germany -—
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—-. Deforestation has also negatively affected ground water supply on the islands. Several rivers have disappeared and many remaining rivers run dry during the dry season. In Grande Comore, 60 per cent of the population relies on uncovered water containers and 40 per cent on coastal aquifers. The Comoros imports roughly 70 per cent of the food it consumes.

The Comoros is experiencing some exodus of educated and skilled workers. GDP per capita has been growing only moderately in recent years, after many years of decline in the early 2000s. The capital, Moroni, located on the island of Grande Comore (N'gazidja), has most of the modern commercial and manufacturing facilities located in the country. With miles of beautiful beaches, tourists are drawn to Comoros. Inbound tourism expenditure over GDP has been growing in recent years and was at 6 per cent in 2019. Incorrect syntax for items

The Comoros' culture has been influenced by Islamic tradition, mixed with French and African elements. Traditionally, people believed in spirits and the power of djinn, which is derived from African, Arab and Madagascan traditions.

Local artisans are skilled in sculpture, pottery, embroidery and basketry. Diversity is also evident in the many prevalent languages used on the islands, including French, Comorian, Arabic and Swahili.

Customary celebrations in the Comoros often feature dancing, music and the re‐creation of popular and important literary texts, including war epics and tales about the foundations of different villages. Embroidered ceremonial coats and Islamic bonnets are frequently donned. Jewelry is also widely produced and sold.