Geography of Mayotte (France)

One of the world's largest coral lagoons, covering more than 1000 square kilometers, is located inside the Mayotte region. The islands of the territory are encircled by a broad fringing reef that is split by many waterways, and they are located in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and the African continent. The health of Mayotte's coral reefs has plummeted during the last 20 years, similar to other coral reefs across the world.

Cyclones and crown-of-thorns starfish are two natural dangers to the reefs, but the growing population of the islands is doing the most of the damage. The coral and other marine species are suffering as a result of increased runoff from agriculture, overfishing, direct harm from people wandering on the shallow reef flats, and water pollution.

Despite geographically being a part of the Comoros islands, the region has had a separate governmental system since the 1970s. In particular among those who favour its inclusion in the Comoros, the region is also referred to as Mahoré, the indigenous name of its largest island.

Physical Features

Mayotte is an island of volcanic origin situated in the northernmost Mozambique Channel, approximately half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique. Mayotte is a component of the Comoro Islands and, like others, was created by the oldest hot spot in the Comoros archipelago, which erupted about 7.7 million years ago. Mayotte is 374 square kilometers in size and has a 185.2-kilometer coastline. Its maritime claims include a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles and an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles.

Due to the erosion and lowering of its plateau, Mayotte, the oldest island in the Comoros archipelago (which is estimated to be 8 million years old), has a less noticeable relief. On the island, there are remnants of ancient volcanism, such the Dzaoudzi Crater, which is now Lake Dziani in Petite Terre, and the Cavani Circus in Grande Terre. The ribs, which are expertly cut, create capes, peninsulas, and deep bays surrounded by mangroves.

The major island, Grande-Terre (363 km2), is cut out and precipitous. It is made up of 6 eroded massifs, with Mount Benara (660 m) as its highest point. Its unique shape gave rise to the moniker "island hippocampus". The island's topography is undulating, with old volcanic peaks and deep ravines. The Indian Ocean is the lowest point, and Benara, at 660 m, is the highest. In the southwest of the island is a sizable bay called the Baie de Bouéni.

It is situated inside the Somali plate geologically. On the island of Mayotte, a volcanic mountain range with summits between 500- and 600-meters high forms a north-south chain. Coral reefs located a way from the shore create protected waters for fishing and shipping. The vegetation consists of a luxuriant tropical evergreen forest.

Climate

The weather in Mayotte is tropical and maritime. During the northeastern monsoon, which occurs between November and May, there is a hot, muggy, and rainy season. Cyclones present a risk at this time of year. There is a cooler, dry season from May to November. Average monthly temperatures range from 75 °F (24 °C) in August to 81 °F (27 °C) in December due to the region's warm, humid, and maritime climate. The island receives 200 inches (5,000 mm) of rain on average each year.

Flora And Fauna

Mayotte has a beautiful environment thanks to nature. The majority of the "natural" space is covered by agroforestry systems made primarily of introduced species, with humid forests serving as the primary representation of the natural vegetation. However, in terms of its area, the flora of Mayotte looks to be among the richest in the world in terms of the number of native species.

The wide variety of settings is advantageous to terrestrial animals. Numerous indigenous or threatened species are listed and protected by national laws or international treaties, including the brown lemur, the maki, the dogfish, and the chameleon. It is now forbidden to introduce non-domestic animal species that don't already exist in the island's natural form.

There are many different types of marine life. The green turtle and the hawksbill turtle, two sea turtle species, depend on the "herbaria" and nesting grounds in Mayotte for their food. Twenty different marine mammal species can be seen in the Mahorish waters on a more or less regular basis (the dugong, which can occasionally be seen in groups of up to 10 individuals, and the humpback whale, which is present from May to October for breeding).

Demographics

At the time of the 2002 census, Mayotte had 160,301 residents, of whom 64.7% were natives of the island, 3.9% were born elsewhere in the French Republic (other than Mayotte, either in metropolitan France or overseas France), 28.1% were immigrants from the Comoros, 2.8% were immigrants from Madagascar, and the remaining 0.5 percent were foreigners. In July 2007, there were 208,783 people living there, and 45.8% of them were under the age of 14. Only 1.8% are over 65, while slightly more than half are between the ages of 15 and 64.

Males have a 59.94-year life expectancy at birth, while females have a 64.45-year life expectancy. Four percent of the population are wazungu (plural: mzungu), or people from France. They are in a position of power and primarily work in municipal administration. Their alienation from Mahorans is furthered by their different way of life, better socioeconomic status, and ignorance of the native tongues.

Conclusion

The island of Mayotte, a French overseas department, is situated in the northern Mozambique Channel, between Madagascar and Africa. Although it is renowned for having one of the largest coral lagoons in the world, the condition of its coral reefs has deteriorated recently as a result of population increase, overfishing, and water pollution as well as natural threats like cyclones and crown-of-thorns starfish.

With a tropical and marine environment, Mayotte has a terrain distinguished by volcanic mountains and deep bays encircled by mangroves. The island has a wide range of terrestrial and marine species, as well as lush woods and a wealth of flora and wildlife. The population is varied, with a sizable proportion of immigrants from Madagascar and the Comoros.

FAQs

1. Where is the island of Mayotte?

Between Madagascar and Africa, in the northern Mozambique Channel, is the island of Mayotte.

2. What are Mayotte's main environmental worries?

The preservation of the island's rich flora and fauna, as well as the degradation of coral reefs brought on by both natural and human threats, are Mayotte's main environmental issues.

3. How is the weather in Mayotte?

With a hot, humid, and rainy season from November to May and a cooler, drier season from May to November, Mayotte has a tropical and marine climate.

4. How are the flora and animals of Mayotte?

Mayotte contains a diverse range of terrestrial and marine animals, including lemurs, sea turtles, marine mammals, and chameleons, as well as moist woods and other natural habitats.

5. What is the population of Mayotte?

A considerable proportion of the 208,783 people living in Mayotte as of July 2007 were under the age of 14 and only a minor proportion were over 65. The inhabitants of the island include locals, immigrants from Madagascar and the Comoros, as well as French nationals.