Mayotte | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of Mayotte
History of Mayotte:
Mayotte is an island located in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Africa. It was first sighted by the Portuguese but was not invaded.
In the early 1800s, the island was conquered and repeatedly handed over to local kings and kings. In 1843, France took control of the archipelago along with the rest of the Comoros Islands. When the rest of the archipelago voted for independence in 1974, Mayotte chose to stay with France. Again in 2009, Mayotte voted to become France’s overseas regulator.
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Information about Mayotte:
| Capital | Mamoutzou |
| Population | 337,750 (Source: 2023 worldometer) |
| Major Cities | Mamoutzou (capital), Koungou, Dzaoudzi, Dembeni, Sada, Pamandzi, Bandraboua, Mtsamboro, Tsingoni |
| Borders | Between Northwestern Madagascar and Northeastern Mozambique |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $2.66 billion |
| Currency | euro (EUR) |
Flag of Mayotte:
Mayotte Economy Key Industries:
Mayotte Major Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction
Mayotte Agricultural Products: vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra
Mayotte Natural Resources: NEGL
Mayotte Major Exports: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon
Mayotte Major Imports: food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals
The Geography of Mayotte:
Total Size of Mayotte: 374 km² (source: wikipedia)
Geographical Low Point of Mayotte: Indian Ocean 0 m
Geographical High Point of Mayotte: Benara 660 m
Climate of Mayotte: Tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
General Terrain of Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
World Region or Continent of Mayotte: Africa
Geographical Coordinates: 12 50 S, 45 10 E
The People of Mayotte & Culture
Mayotte Government Type: NA
Mayotte Nationality: Mahorais (singular and plural)
Mayotte National Holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Mayotte Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Mayotte National Symbol:
Mayotte National Anthem or Song:
Mayotte Languages Spoken: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population
Mayotte Religions: Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Interesting Facts about Mayotte:
Mayotte is located in the western Indian Ocean, 300 km northwest of Madagascar. It is part of the Comoros Islands.
The two Mayotte islands are connected by a causeway stretching up to 2 miles. The two Mayotte islands are known as Pamandzi or Petite Terre and Grande Terre. Petite Terre is about 2.4 km east of Mayotte. This is also the land of volcanoes.
A chain of volcanoes formed the foundation of Mayotte. Their peaks reach a height of 2,000 feet.
Mahoran industry is very diverse. Mayotte’s main commercial activities include shipping, fishing, telecommunications and agriculture. Health services are also a major source of employment in Mayotte. Mayotte’s main imports are chemicals, transport equipment, machinery and crops.
Mayotte is largely a Muslim country. In fact, only 5% of the country identifies with a religion other than Islam! However, the people of Mayotte are considered quite liberal – however, you should always respect their local laws and customs when visiting!
In the 16th century, Mayotte was invaded by the Portuguese and the French! A Malagasy tribe invaded Mayotte in the late 18th century before Mayotte became a French colony in 1845.
The community of Mayotte is not as old as the volcanic island on which it is located: it is over 8 million years old! If you do visit, be sure to treat the land with the respect it deserves.