Mayotte

Overview

Mayotte lies in the Indian Ocean as part of the Comoros archipelago, between Madagascar and mainland Africa. Since 2011 it has been an overseas department of France, giving it the same administrative status as a department in mainland France and making it part of the European Union. The majority of the population is Muslim, and while French is the official language, most residents also speak Shimaore, one of the Comorian languages. The territory consists of two main islands: the larger Grande-Terre and the smaller Petite-Terre.

Mamoudzou, Mayotte's largest town, on Grande-Terre, serves as the administrative and commercial center, with a ferry connecting it to Petite-Terre. On Petite-Terre lies Dziani Dzaha, a crater lake whose water appears greenish due to the microorganisms living in it. Mount Choungui, in the southern part of Grande-Terre, rises from the landscape as a former volcanic plug, and the trail to its summit is a well-known hiking route on the island.

Mayotte's lagoon, enclosed by a coral reef roughly 160 kilometers long, ranks among the largest and deepest lagoons in the world, where whale sharks and dolphins can regularly be seen. The coral reefs within the lagoon are suited to both snorkeling and diving, with sheltered waters that are also accessible to beginners. Local cuisine blends French, African, and Arab influences, with langouste à la vanille, spiced lobster with vanilla, as a signature dish, reflecting the island's vanilla cultivation, alongside fish dishes prepared with coconut milk.