Geography of Anjouan

For a small island, Anjouan boasts diverse geography. Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous Republic of the Union of Comoros, which is essentially an archipelago, composed of two other territories, Grande Comoro and Moheli. It is located in the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique. The total area of the Island is 424 square kilometers.

The capital city of Anjouan is Mutsamudu which also has one of the deepest ports in the region. The highs on the island range from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius year-round. The weather is warm and humid from December to April and slightly cooler from May to November. Anjouan has a relatively mixed climate. The Anjouan climate patterns fall into two distinct periods of time. From April to October the season is fresh and dry, from November to March the temperatures rise and it can get very hot and humid, with heavy rainfall. Summer conditions also include periodic cyclones, waterspouts and tidal waves. The dry season lasts May-Oct.

Bordered by coconut palms, banana trees and other tropical plants, the island of Anjouan is green and unspoilt, the highest point on Anjouan is 1,535m. Anjouan is a 20-minute flight from Moroni (Grande Comore) which can be reached from various international destinations. Flights are available from Paris via Reunion and Mayotte, and the Seychelles via Mayotte or Madagascar. The climate of the Comoros is tropical marine.

Anjouan's soils, which were once fertile, have suffered extensive erosion but the inland valleys of Moheli, smallest of the Comoros Island group, are generally fertile with densely forested hillsides. Surface water is seasonal and wells can only be sunk on Anjouan and Moheli. The terrain of the islands is rugged and mountainous.

By: Mini Sreenarayanan
GOWEALTHY.COM © 2008
For comments: editor@gowealthy.com