COMOROS

COMOROS / UNION DES COMORES - UDZIMA WA KOMORI.

Port Mamutzu (Mamoudzou).
Airmail. Ninth stamp in a set of 17 (overprinted), issued on 01.08.1975.
Face value: 100 (over 90) Comorian francs.
Design: Pierrette Lambert (b. 1928).
Printing: Photogravure.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 238.
- Scott No. C84.
- StampWorld No. 219.
- Yvert et Tellier No. PA84.

Mamoudzou is, since 1977, the capital of Mayotte, a French overseas region and department in the Indian Ocean. When the referendum for the independence of the Comoros Islands was held (December 22, 1974), Mayotte voted to remain linked to France, while the State of Comoros proclaimed its independence on July 6, 1975. Mamoudzou is the most populated commune (municipality) of Mayotte (71,437, according to the 2017 census). It is located on Grande-Terre (or Maoré), the main island of Mayotte. In the background of the seal you can see the promontory of Pointe de Mahabou.

COMOROS

COMOROS / UNION DES COMORES - UDZIMA WA KOMORI.

Eruption of Karthala volcano (September 1972).
Airmail stamp issued on 16.07.1973.
Face value: 120 French African CFA francs.
Design and engraving: Georges Bétemps (1921-1992).
Printing: Photogravure.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 159.
- Scott No. C54.
- StampWorld No. 140.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 140.
- Yvert et Tellier No. PA 54.

Karthala (Karatala, Kartala or Kartola, in Arabic القرطالة) is a shield volcano 30 km (18.64 mi) long and 15 km (9.32 mi) wide located on the island of Grande Comore. It culminates at 2,361 m (7,746 ft) above sea level. At its top there is a caldera 3 km (1.86 mi) wide by 4 km (2.48 mi) long. It is a relatively active volcano, with twenty Hawaiian-type eruptions during the 19th and 20th centuries, which have formed lava flows that reach the sea in some cases. In one of the craters it was formed a lava lake. Although there are data of eruptions in 12th century, the first that is documented took place in 1808; the most violent eruptions, causing human casualties, were those of 1884, 1904, 1977 and the end of 2005. On November 12, 2006, Karthala was recognized as a Ramsar site due to the diversity of the wetlands surrounding the volcano. The first recorded ascension was that of Doctor Kresten in 1863.

COMOROS

COMOROS / UNION DES COMORES - UDZIMA WA KOMORI.

Map of Mayotte Island.
Airmail stamp issued on 31.08.1974.
Face value: 120 French Africa CFA francs.
Printing: Recess.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 179.
- Scott No. C65.
- StampWorld No. 160.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 160.
- Yvert et Tellier No. PA 61.

The Comoros archipelago, in the Indian Ocean, is made up of four islands: Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli), Ndzuani (Anjouan) and Maore (Mayotte). With a surface area of ​​1,861 km² (719 sq mi), not counting Mayotte, it is one of the smallest countries in the world. The archipelago was colonized before the 8th century by Bantu tribes, and later by people from the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago and Madagascar. Later it was subjected to Arab rule and Islamized, and became dependent on Zanzibar, until from 1841 the rule of France was established in it, which in 1912 made it a province of the colony of Madagascar. On July 6, 1975, the independence of three of its islands was unilaterally declared, which was recognized by France, while the population of Mayotte chose to remain under French dependence, and in 2011 the island became an Overseas department of France. Mayotte covers an area of ​​374 km² (144 sq mi) and its population is about 280,000.