COMOROS: 20 Facts in 5 MINUTES

In this video, we explore 20 fascinating facts about the beautiful island nation of Comoros, located off the east coast of Africa. From its stunning beaches and rich cultural heritage to its unique wildlife and interesting history, Comoros is a truly special place that deserves to be appreciated and celebrated.
1. Comoros is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Southern Africa, between Mozambique and Madagascar.
2. Comoros is known as the “Perfume Islands” due to their fragrant plant life, particularly that of the ylang-ylang flower.
3. In fact, Comoros is the world’s largest producer of ylang-ylang, supplying around 80% of the world’s ylang-ylang flowers which form the base of the famous perfume Chanel No 5.
4. The first confirmed human inhabitants of Comoros are believed to be of Malayo-Polynesian descent, arriving by the 5th or 6th century CE. The first Europeans known to Comoros are thought to have been the Portuguese during the late-16th century.
5. The Comoros archipelago is actually made up of four main islands, as well as many smaller ones: Grande Comore, Moheli, Anjouan and Mayotte. However, Mayotte voted against independence and is still governed by France.
6. The flag of Comoros is made up of four horizontal stripes of yellow, white, red and blue, as well as a green triangle featuring a white crescent and four white stars. The four stripes and stars represent the four main islands while the green and crescent represent Islam.
7. Comoros is one of the least visited countries in the world, only receiving around 28,000 tourists in 2022 (the latest available data), although they received over 45,000 tourists in 2019.
8. On the island of Grande Comore is the 2,361m Karthala volcano, one of the most active in the world. It last erupted in 2007 with eruptions happening, on average, every 11 years, but rarely cause significant damage. The mountain, which is also the highest point in Comoros, is a popular trekking destination.
9. The name Comoros originates from the Arabic “Juzur al Qamar” meaning “Islands of the Moon”.
10. The name of the capital city of Comoros, Moroni, derives from “mroni,” which means “at the river” in Shingazidja, the language spoken on the island of Grande Comore.
11. The national dish of Comoros is “Langouste a la Vanille”, which means grilled lobster in a creamy vanilla sauce.
12. In 2021, Comoros qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, finishing 3rd in the group stage and qualifying to the knock-out stage. Such an achievement for the country.
13. The Comorian islands of Anjouan and Mohéli are the only place in the world where you can see the endangered Livingstone fruit bats. Their wingspan reaches 1.5m (4.9ft) and they live in small colonies high up in the mountains.
14. Natural resources in Comoros are in short supply so the islands’ chief exports are cloves, vanilla, cloves and essential oils used in perfume.
15. Opened in 2001, Mohéli National Park was the first protected area in Comoros. The park, which includes several marine reserves, is co-managed by village communities and aims to conserve the rich biodiversity found in the region.
16. Comoros has a diverse range of endemic animal species including 21 species of birds, nine species of reptiles and two species of fruit bats, as well as over 500 endemic plant species.
17. From 2007 to 2013, the entire Comoros population of 700,000 people were given three doses of a malaria drug derived from an ancient Chinese drug. By 2014, it was announced that malaria had been eliminated in Comoros.
18. Comoros practises two distinct forms of marriage, known as the Petit Mariage and the Grand Mariage. A Grand Mariage can feature a host of elaborate rituals, last for two weeks and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
19. Since independence, Comoros has endured more than 20 coups and secession attempts. On average, a coup is attempted in Comoros every two years which has led the islands to be nicknamed “the coup-coup islands”.
20. The island of Mohéli is a significant turtle nesting site. Local villagers used to eat turtles, but now they are involved in scientific monitoring and turtle protection in order to promote ecotourism.