Geography of Mayotte

Mayotte
Native name:
Mahoré
Nickname: Grande-Terre
Map of Mayotte
Geography
LocationMozambique Channel
Coordinates12°50′S 45°10′E / 12.833°S 45.167°E / -12.833; 45.167
ArchipelagoComoro Islands
Area374 km2 (144 sq mi)
Length39 km (24.2 mi)
Width22 km (13.7 mi)
Coastline185.2 km (115.08 mi)
Highest elevation660 m (2170 ft)
Highest pointBenara
Administration
France
Overseas DepartmentMayotte
Largest settlementMamoudzou (pop. 57,281)
Demographics
Population256,518 (2017)
Pop. density690/km2 (1790/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsMahoran

Mayotte is an island of volcanic origin in the northernmost Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique. Mayotte is part of the Comoro Islands, and like them is the result of a former geological hot spot, the oldest of the Comoros archipelago, formed about 7.7 mya.[1] Mayotte has an area of 374 square kilometres, and a coastline of length 185.2 km. Its maritime claims are an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles, and a territorial sea of 12 nm.

  1. ^ Thomas Schlüter, Martin H. Trauth, Geological Atlas of Africa, s.v. "The Comoros", 2008:74.