Editing Mayotte (section)

== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of Mayotte}}
{{see also|List of islands of Mayotte}}
[[File:Mayotte topographic map-fr.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|Topographic map of Mayotte, the "seahorse island"]]
The term Mayotte (or Maore) may refer to all of the department's islands, of which the largest is known as Maore ({{langx|fr|Grande-Terre}}) and includes Maore's surrounding islands, most notably Pamanzi ({{langx|fr|Petite-Terre}}), or only to the largest island. The name is believed to come from ''Mawuti'', contraction of the Arabic {{lang|ar|جزيرة الموت}} ''Jazīrat al-Mawt'' – meaning "island of death" (maybe due to the dangerous reefs circling the island) and corrupted to ''Mayotta'' in Portuguese, later turned into French. However, the local name is ''Mahore'', and the Arabic etymology is doubtful.

The main island, [[Grande-Terre (Mayotte)|Grande-Terre]] (or Maore), geologically the oldest of the [[Comoro Islands]], is {{convert|39|km|mi|0}} long and {{convert|22|km|mi|0}} wide, and its highest point is [[Mount Benara]], <!--({{langx|fr|Mont Bénara}}; [[Shimaore language|Shimaore]]: ''Mlima Bénara'') -->at {{convert|660|m|ft|0}} above sea level. Because of the [[volcanic rock]], the soil is relatively rich in some areas. A coral reef encircling much of the island ensures protection for ships and a habitat for fish. [[Dzaoudzi]] was the capital of Mayotte (and earlier the capital of all the colonial Comoros) until 1977, when the capital was relocated to [[Mamoudzou]] on the main island of Grande-Terre. It is situated on Petite-Terre (or [[Pamanzi]]), which at {{convert|10|km2|sqmi|0}} is the largest of several islets adjacent to Maore. The area of the lagoon behind the reef is approximately {{Convert|1500|sqkm|sqmi}}, reaching a maximum depth of about 80m. It is described as "the largest barrier-reef-lagoon complex within the southwestern Indian Ocean".<ref name="Zinke2003">{{cite journal |last1=Zinke |first1=J. |last2=Reijmer |first2=J. J. G. |last3=Thomassin |first3=B. A. |last4=Dullo |first4=W.-C. |last5=Grootes |first5=P. M. |last6=Erlenkeuser |first6=H. |title=Postglacial flooding history of Mayotte Lagoon (Comoro Archipelago, southwest Indian Ocean) |journal=Marine Geology |date=2003 |volume=194 |issue=3–4 |pages=181–196 |doi=10.1016/S0025-3227(02)00705-3|bibcode=2003MGeol.194..181Z }}</ref>

=== Topography ===
Mayotte is the oldest of the four large islands of the [[Comoro Islands|Comoros archipelago]],<ref name=":0">Ornella Lamberti, "L'île aux parfums : mémoires d'une indépendante", dans Glitter – hors-série spécial nouveaux arrivants, Mayotte, 2017</ref> a chain of land emerging from a crescent-shaped submarine [[relief]] at the entrance to the [[Mozambique Channel]]. Located {{convert|295|km|abbr=on}} west of Madagascar and {{convert|67|km|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Anjouan]], sometimes visible at sunset in the shade, it is composed of several islands and islets covered with lush vegetation. The two largest islands are [[Grande-Terre (Mayotte)|Grande-Terre]] and Petite-Terre, backed by a [[coral reef]].

This {{convert|160|km|adj=on|abbr=on}} long [[coral reef]] surrounds a {{convert|1100|km2|abbr=on}} lagoon, one of the largest and deepest in the world.<ref name=":0" /> Part of the barrier reef features a [[double barrier]] that is rare on the planet. It protects almost all of Mayotte from ocean currents and waves, except for a dozen passes, including one in the east called the "S-pass". The lagoon, which averages {{convert|5|to|10|km|abbr=on}} wide, is up to {{convert|100|m|abbr=on}} deep.

It is dotted with about a hundred coral islets, such as [[Mtsamboro]]. This reef serves as a refuge for boats and oceanic fauna. The volcanic activity that created the islands makes the soil particularly fertile.

The total area of Mayotte is about {{convert|374|km2|abbr=on}}, which makes it by far the smallest [[Overseas France|French overseas]] department (after [[Martinique]], which is three times larger at {{convert|1128|km2|abbr=on}}). However, this area is difficult to assess accurately, given the number of small uninhabited islets, some of which are completely underwater at high tide, but may reveal significant areas at low tide. The main islands are

* Grande-Terre, {{convert|363|km2|abbr=on}}, is {{convert|39|km|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|22|km|abbr=on}} wide. Its highest points are: Mount Bénara or Mavingoni ({{convert|660|m|abbr=on}}), [[Mont Choungui|Mount Choungui]] ({{convert|594|m|abbr=on}}), Mount Mtsapéré ({{convert|572|m|abbr=on}}), and Mount Combani ({{convert|477|m|abbr=on}}). It is home to Mamoudzou, which is the economic capital of Mayotte and houses the departmental council and the prefecture;
* Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi Island), with Dzaoudzi (official capital of Mayotte) and Pamandzi (where the airport is located). It is {{convert|11|km2|abbr=on}};
* Mtsamboro is the third largest island ({{convert|2|km2|abbr=on}}). It is permanently inhabited, mainly by [[Fisherman|fishermen]];
* Mbouzi islet ({{convert|84|ha|abbr=on}}) is classified as a [[nature reserve]];
* Bandrélé islet is the fifth largest island;
* Sable Blanc [[islet]] is located near the Saziley Marine Park (marine protected area).