| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| In 1890, a five unit version of these entities were issued by Sultan Said Ali, along with bronze 5 and 10 centime pieces. (+) There are no longer centimes issued in the Comoros, but these entities are minted in versions from 2 to 100 units, and the highest paper version of these entities is 10 thousand. (*) For the points, name this unit of currency in the Comoros which dates back to it first becoming a French protectorate in 1886. | Comorian Franc (accept CF; accept KMF) |
| This city is located near the village of Bambao Mtrouni, which is known for its beaches. Narrow alleys, fortresses, and ancient palaces are found in this city's (+) Medina built during the late-1400s. This city's citadel was constructed in 1786 to protect the city from Malagasy slave raiders. This city is the only deep water port (*) of the Union of the Comoros. The town of Sima is located west of, for the points, what capital of Anjouan, the second largest city in Comoros? | Mutsamudu |
| This climate classification of the Comoros, based in part on its daily temperature of around 79 degrees Fahrenheit with little variation, is shared with Brazil and Queensland. This (+) climate classification includes two seasons, wet and dry and typically sees 39 to 59 inches of annual precipitation. (*) For the points, name this climate classification experienced by coastal areas and islands from ten to twenty degrees away from the equator. | Tropical marine (accept in either order; prompt on partial answers) |
| This structure, built in 1427, is located in the historic medina of Moroni, and originally served to show that the Comoros could stand as an equal to the great Swahili cities. In 1921, a (+) minaret was added to this building, which is noted for its white walls and two stories of repeated arches around its curved porches. Also known as the Old Friday (*) Mosque, or Ancienne Mosquée de Vendredi, this is, for the points, what 120- foot tall mosque, the tallest in the Comoros? | Badjanani Mosque (accept Old Friday Mosque or Ancienne Mosquée de Vendredi before mentioned) |
| In order to distill this plant's product on Moheli, wood is burned, requiring the planting of trees, which leads to increased soil erosion. Scientifically known as Cananga odorata, (+) high blood pressure is believed to be relieved by the essential oil from this plant, which makes up 29 percent of the annual exports of the Comoros. 80 percent of the (*) world's supply is produced in the Comoros of, for the points, what tropical tree? | Ylang-Ylang (accept Cananga tree or Cananga odorato before mentioned) |
| A waterfall with this name is located in the middle of a forested part of an island that also contains Dziankoudre [[zee-ahn-KOO-dreh]] Waterfall and Nkozini Waterfall. (+) Travelers often make the hard and steep climb from Lac Dzialandzé up a mountain with this name, the central peak of the Sima, Nioumakele, and Jimilime mountains. Located near the village of Lingoni, (*) for the points, what mountain is the tallest point on the island of Anjouan? | Mtingui (accept Ntingui) |
| These islands were named by Hippolyte Caltaux [[kahl-TOH]], who established a coconut plantation on the largest island. Today, the French Foreign Legion (+) is garrisoned at a meteorological station on these islands, which are claimed by the Comoros, and function primarily as a nature reserve. Home to a French Marine Natural Park, (*) for the points, what are these islands in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands? | Glorioso Islands (or Îles Glorieuses; accept Archipel des Glorieuses; accept Glorioso Archipelago) |
| Preservation of this creature is a joint effort between the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Bristol Zoo in England, but the 1200 remaining individuals of this Pteropus (+) are imperiled by reduced tree coverage in the Comoros. Living primarily in the montane forest on Mohéli, this orange-eyed mammal can grow up to twelve inches long with a wingspan of five feet. Named for a British doctor (*) who visited the Comoros in 1863, for the points, what is this megabat? | Livingstone's fruit bat (accept Comoro flying fox; prompt on partial answers; prompt on "David Livingstone" or "Dr. Livingstone") |
| This name means "country of the blacks" in Arabic, but it has been theorized that this word may actually originate from a Javanese word for the people of Africa, particularly Zanzibar. (+) The Comoros was considered a part of this historical region whose name was also attached to the portion of the Indian Ocean north of Madagascar. (*) For the points, give this name used by Muslim geographers to refer to Southeast Africa and its inhabitants. | Zanj (or Zingium; or Zenj; or Zinj; or Zang; accept Sea of Zanj) |
| In the 1970s, a group of Belgian divers attempted to prove this body of water was not actually bottomless, as stated by local folklore, supposedly never resurfacing following their descent. (+) This body of water, which was formed due to the volcanic activity of Mount Karthala, is closest to the remote village Mitsamioli. The Plage (*) Gountsini [[PLAHZ-goont-see-NEE]] lies near, for the points, what "lake" in the north of the Grand Comore? | Lac Salé [[sah-LEH]] |
| This location is east of the Maloudja Beach on the northern tip of Grand Comore on the outskirts of Mitsamiouli. A sheltered bay once frequented by French sailors, (+) and the clear, blue waters of this location sit between two large, towering rocks. Local legend says that Muhammad visited this location while hiding from (*) pirates, leading to the name of, for the points, what body of water whose name translates to "Hole of the Prophet" in English? | Trou du Prophète [[troo-doo-proh-FET]] (accept Hole of the Prophet before mentioned; accept phonetic pronunciations) |
| The windward side of the Comoros is affected by the north-west variety of these entities, leading to more than 100 inches of precipitation a year. (+) These entities in the Comoros are most prevalent from December to April and result from the Intertropical Convergence Zone moving south. (*) For the points, name these rainy periods, which are often called a "season," taking place in the doldrums. | Monsoons (accept Toutheastern African Monsoon; accept Monsoon Season) |
| This organization, which uses nine Uniform Acts to accomplish its goals, was formed in 1993 in an attempt to vitalize economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Along with Guinea, (+) the Comoros became part of this organization in 1995, joining 17 other African nations. Typically known by an acronym, (*) this is, for the points, what organization whose full French name is translated as "Organization for the Harmonization of Corporate Law in Africa"? | OHADA (accept Organization for the Harmonization of Corporate Law in Africa or Organisation pour l'harmonisation en Afrique du droit des affaires before mentioned) |
| It is likely that these creatures were introduced to one island by rafting on the floodwaters of the Betsiboka River. These animals are designated as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, though their numbers have increased (+) significantly in the last ten years on Grand Comore. Many of these animals consume nectar from the kapok tree as a supplement to their primary diet of fruit. (*) For the points, name these long-tailed, small primates introduced to the Comoros from Madagascar. | Mongoose Lemur |
| The creation of this national park was announced in 2016 as part of a government effort to protect 25 percent of the Comoros. Île de la Selle, or Saddle Island, (+) is located in this park, which includes a major coral reef. This is the alphabetically last of the five national parks in the Comoros. Located along the Sima Peninsula (*) in the eastern Comoros, for the points, what is this national park along the western arm of Anjouan? | Shisiwani National Park |
| Martin and Harriet Ottenheimer have written about this city's wooden carvings and music style, in which men play the fumba, dori, and msindio. The mausoleum of President Ahmed (+) Abdallah Abderemane in this city includes four tall minarets. The Ajajo River flows south of this city, whose Old Town is divided into Hari ya muji, Maweni, and (*) Momoni. For the points, name this second-largest city on Anjouan, located on its east coast. | Domoni |
| A village with this name is a major producer of kalafu, or cloves, which were historically transported by donkeys. Communities near a mountain range with this name include Hajoho (+) and Ouani. With Nioumakele and Shisiwani, a mountain range of this name gives one island a distinctive triangular shape. A village with a distinct winding road and a northeastern mountain (*) range share, for the points, what name, on the island of Anjouan? | Jimilimé |
| This park contains large populations of Livingstone's flying fox and a variant of the Seychelles fruit bat, though the disappearance of the freshwater supply on this park's island has posed wildlife risks. Moya Forest (+) is located south of Mount Trindrini in the southern portion of this park which contains the crater lake Dzialandzé and is located near the city of Mutsamudu. This park's namesake feature is the highest peak on the island of (*) Anjouan. For the points, name this national park, named for a mountain. | Mount Ntringui National Park |
| This endangered species has been targeted by the spread of introduced species such as strawberry guava, the common myna, and rats. This species's namesake, who also names a heron (+) and sunbird, established a basis for a "Grande Comore protectorate." This bird has a dark crown with pale streaks, which help it survive in the forests on the slopes of Mount (*) Karthala. For the points, name this passerine bird named for a French-Comorian naturalist. | Humblot's Flycatcher [[oom-BLOHS]] (or Grand Comoro Flycatcher; accept Humblotia flavirostris; accept Léon Humblot; prompt on "Humblot's Heron" or "Humblot's Sunbird"; accept phonetic pronunciations) |
| The Robert Mertens's day gecko is found predominantly by this body of water which is bordered to the southeast by Chirongui. In the middle of this body of water is an islet called Chissiwa Karoni, (+) and Mont Choungui is located five kilometers away from this body of water which holds the country's largest area of mangroves. Lying at the northern end of the Mozambique (*) Channel is, for the points, what large bay located in the southwest of Mayotte? | Baie de Bouéni |
| This natural site, which is located to the northeast of Maouéni, is over 1,000 meters tall and lacks a summit caldera due to volcanic activity in the 18th century. Comoros's native species of birds, such as its namesake blue pigeon (+) and thrush, are found in an 8,000 hectare "Important Bird Area" found on the slopes of this volcano. (*) For the points, name this shield volcano at the North end of Grand Comore Island. | La Grille |
| St. Michael's Church, which dates back to 1849, is located on this island. A crater lake on this island called Dziani Dzaha (+) is known for its underwater lava tube caves and potentially a pirate's treasure. This island is served by Dzaoudzi Pamandzi International Airport, named for its two largest settlements. (*) For the points, name this second-largest island after Grande-Terre in Mayotte. | Pamanzi (accept Petite-Terre) |
| Many children in this town play at Place Parendraru, just feet from the water. Olympic hurdler Maoulida Darouèche was born in this town, which contains a swimming pool called Bishiyoni (+) and the ruins of the Palais de Kaviridjeo. The Stade Zikumbini is located in this town, which is bordered to the north by Mde and the east by Mkazi. Located south of (*) Moroni, this is, for the points, what town on the western coast of Grande Comore? | Iconi (or Ikoni) |
| The Laka Lodge services this locale, alongside a bed and breakfast called Chez Sharifa. With clear site to islets like (+) Chissioua Ouenefou and Kanzoni, of the same name as the village this locale is near, this beach is a popular tourist destination despite being close by to beaches like Chomoni and Bouni. (*) For the points, name this popular Indian Ocean beach on south Mohéli. | Nioumachoua Beach (prompt on "Mohéli") |
| A grouping of these animals was once considered part of the wider Malagasy subspecies, but have since been identified as uniquely Comoran. One of these animals endemic to the region around an active volcano is sometimes named for that volcano, Mount Karthala. (+) The Anjouan, Moheli, and Grand Comoro are all species of the Scops variety of this animal. (*) For the points, name these nocturnal birds, many of which live in the Comoros. | Owls (prompt on "Birds" before mentioned) |
| After hearing about this religion, Mtswa-Mwindza took a journey to learn about it and returned to the Comoros to being the conversion of the islanders to this religion. Under President Ahmed Abdallah, (+) the Comoros changed its name to reflect its position as a Republic under this religion's rule, a title it held until 2001. (*) For the points, name this religion of which as many as 99 percent of Comorians follow the Sunni branch. | Islam (accept Sunni Islam; accept Muslim; accept Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros) |