The islands of Comoros sit like four emerald jewels in the warm Indian Ocean. Together they are not very big — you could fit all of them inside a medium-sized city — but they are packed with wildlife, flowers, and friendly communities. Children in Comoros can often see the ocean from wherever they are standing.
Each island has its own special character. Grande Comore is the largest and has the famous Mount Karthala volcano at its centre. Mohéli is the smallest and has the best coral reefs and sea turtle beaches. Anjouan is known for its steep green cliffs that drop down to the sea. The islands are home to about 900,000 people who speak Comorian, Arabic, and French.
The islands were formed millions of years ago by volcanoes pushing up from the ocean floor. Because they are volcanic, the soil is very rich and good for growing things. Farmers grow ylang-ylang flowers, vanilla, cloves, and cassava. The smell of ylang-ylang flowers drifting on the breeze is something visitors never forget.