Editing Mayotte (section)

== Environment ==
=== Geology ===
{{main|Geology of Mayotte}}
[[File:2019-03-08-Mayotte-Bathymetry-EQs-Section.png|thumb|right|Topography of Mayotte]]
[[File:Dziani Dzaha in Volcanic Crater in Mayotte.jpg|thumb|[[Dziani lake]] is the result of an ancient [[volcano]] that went extinct approximately 500,000 years ago.]]

Mayotte is a primarily volcanic island rising steeply from the bed of the ocean to a height of {{convert|660|m|ft}} on Mont Bénara ([[OpenStreetMap]] gives this as {{Convert|661|m|ft}}).

Two volcanic centres are reported, a southern one (Pic Chongui, {{Convert|594|m|ft}}) with a breached crater to the NW, and a northern centre (Mont M'Tsapéré, {{Convert|572|m|ft}}) with a breached crater to the south-east. Mont Bénara is on the curving ridge between these two peaks, approximately at the contact point of the two structures. Volcanic activity started about 7.7&nbsp;million years ago in the south, ceasing about 2.7&nbsp;million years ago. In the north, activity started about 4.7&nbsp;million years ago and lasted until about 1.4&nbsp;million years ago. Both centres had several phases of activity.<ref name="Volcano Discovery">[https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/mayotte-island.html Volcano Discovery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723071200/https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/mayotte-island.html |date=23 July 2019 }}.</ref> The most recent age reported for an ash band is 7000 year BP.<ref name="Zinke2003" />

==== Earthquake swarm ====
The [[November 11 2018 seismic event|November 11, 2018, seismic event]] occurred about {{Convert|15|mi|km}} off the coast of Mayotte. It was recorded by seismograms in many places, including [[Kenya]], Chile, New Zealand, Canada, and Hawaii located almost {{Convert|11000|mi|km}} away.<ref name=forbes/> The seismic waves lasted for more than 20 minutes, but despite this, no one felt it.<ref name=forbes>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2018/12/03/strange-waves-rippled-across-earth-and-only-one-person-spotted-them/#20938576aaab |title=Strange Waves Rippled Across Earth And Only One Person Spotted Them |first=Trevor |last=Nace |access-date=2019-01-26|magazine=[[Forbes]] |date=2018-12-03}}</ref><ref name=bigthink>{{cite web|url=https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/mystery-seismic-wave?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1|title=An unexplained seismic event 'rang' across the Earth in November |first=Robber |last=Berman |access-date=2019-01-26|date=2018-11-29|publisher=The Big Think Inc.}}</ref>
Subsequently, the earthquake swarm has been linked to a newly discovered undersea volcano located {{Convert|50|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from Mayotte at a depth of {{Convert|3500|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2019 |title=Mayotte quake swarm linked to newly discovered undersea volcano |url=https://africatimes.com/2019/05/17/mayotte-quake-swarm-linked-to-newly-discovered-undersea-volcano/ |publisher=Africa Times (AT Editor) |access-date=13 April 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Marine environment ===
[[File:MBouzi Patate Sud Grande Marée.JPG|thumb|Coral reef at low tide at M'Bouzi island]]

Mayotte is surrounded by a typical tropical [[coral reef]]. It consists of a large outer [[Coral reef|barrier reef]], enclosing one of the world's largest and deepest lagoons, followed by a [[fringing reef]], interrupted by many [[mangrove]]s. All Mayotte waters are ruled by a National Marine Park, and many places are natural reserves.

The outer coral reef is {{Convert|195|km|mi|abbr=on}} long, housing {{Convert|1500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of lagoon, including {{Convert|7.3|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of [[mangrove]]. There are at least 250 different species of coral, 760 tropical fish species, and the National Natural Heritage Inventory (INPN) has no fewer than 3,616 marine species, but this is probably a far cry from the actual count. As this region of the world is still poorly inventoried by scientists, the waters of Mayotte continue to harbour many species unknown to science, and allow important scientific discoveries each year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mayottehebdo.com/actualite/environnement/du-nouveau-dans-le-lagon |title=Du nouveau dans le lagon |last1=Ducarme |first1=Frédéric |date=3 July 2017 |website=Mayotte Hebdo |access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>

=== Terrestrial environment ===
{{main|Comoros forests}}
[[File:Ripisylve Mayotte.jpg|thumb|[[Riparian forest]] with great [[mango tree]]s]]
Mayotte has a great diversity in its plant life: more than 1,300 species are recorded, half of them being endemic, making this island one of the richest in plant diversity in the world compared to its size.<ref name="Naturalistes"/> 15% of the island is classified as natural reserve; however, the primal forest now covers barely 5% of the island due to illegal deforestation.

Just like many volcanic islands, Mayotte shelters quite a limited mammal biodiversity, the only native species being [[flying fox]]es (''[[Pteropus seychellensis]] comorensis''). However, there are 18 species of reptiles, 23 of terrestrial molluscs, 116 butterflies, 38 dragonflies, 50 grasshoppers, and 150 beetles.<ref name="Naturalistes">[https://www.naturalistesmayotte.fr/mayotte/ Découvrons Mayotte] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623162645/https://www.naturalistesmayotte.fr/mayotte/ |date=23 June 2019 }}, on naturalistesmayotte.fr.</ref>

===Protected areas===
By 2021, there were 30 protected areas on Mayotte, totaling {{Convert|55|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 13.94% of Mayotte's land area, and 100% of Mayotte's marine area.<ref name="mayotte">UNEP-WCMC (2021). Protected Area Profile for Mayotte from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 1 September 2021. [https://www.protectedplanet.net/country/MYT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901183327/https://www.protectedplanet.net/country/MYT|date=1 September 2021}}</ref> Protected areas on Mayotte include [[Mayotte Marine Natural Park]], [[Pointes et plages de Saziley et Charifou]], and Ilôt Mbouzi National Nature Reserve.

On 3 May 2021, the French government created the [[Forests of Mayotte National Nature Reserve]] ({{Lang|fr|Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Forêts de Mayotte}}). The reserve consists of {{convert|2801|ha|abbr=on}} in six mountain forests, covering 51% of Mayotte's reserve forests and 7.5% of Mayotte's total land area. Areas protected by the reserve include [[Mlima Combani and Mlima Mtsapéré Important Bird Area|Mount Mtsapéré]], [[Mlima Combani and Mlima Mtsapéré Important Bird Area|Mount Combani]], [[Benara|Mount Benara]], and [[Mont Choungui|Mount Choungui]]. The purpose of the reserve is to protect the relict primary forests of the island, restore the island's secondary forests, and protect the island's native flora and fauna.<ref>Laperche, Dorothée (2021)"La réserve naturelle nationale des forêts de Mayotte est créée" Actu-Environnement.com, 5 May 2021. Accessed 1 September 2021. [https://www.actu-environnement.com/ae/news/reserve-naturelle-nationale-forets-mayotte-37483.php4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901184224/https://www.actu-environnement.com/ae/news/reserve-naturelle-nationale-forets-mayotte-37483.php4|date=1 September 2021}}</ref><ref>"Décret n° 2021-545 du 3 mai 2021 portant création de la réserve naturelle nationale des forêts de Mayotte". Journal Officiel, République Française. Accessed 1 September 2021. [https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000043473720] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515214325/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000043473720|date=15 May 2021}}</ref><ref>"Forêts de Mayotte". Réserves Naturelles de France. Accessed 1 September 2021. [https://www.reserves-naturelles.org/forets-de-mayotte] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920055041/https://www.reserves-naturelles.org/forets-de-mayotte|date=20 September 2021}}</ref>