Grande-Terre, Mayotte

This article is about the main island of Mayotte. For other uses of the toponym "Grande-Terre", see Grande Terre.

Grande-Terre (French pronunciation: [ɡʁɑ̃d tɛʁ]; Maore or Nyambo Bole in Shimaore) is the main island of the French overseas region of Mayotte. The island is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean between northwestern Madagascar and northeastern Mozambique. Spread across an area of 363 km² (140 sq mi), it is part of the Comoros archipelago.

Grande-Terre

Native name: Maore, Mahori
Grande-Terre
Geography
Location	Indian Ocean and Mozambique Channel
Coordinates	12.831887°S 45.149474°E / -12.831887; 45.149474
Area	363 km2 (140 sq mi)
Area rank	~11th
Highest elevation	660 m (2170 ft)
Highest point	Mount Benara
Administration
France
Largest settlement	Mamoudzou (pop. 53,022 (2009))
Demographics
Population	186,452[1] (2010)
Pop. density	499/km2 (1292/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Shimaore, Bushi, Arabs, Swahilis, French

Geography

Grande‑Terre is the main island of the French overseas region of Mayotte.^[2] The island is part of the Comoros archipelago located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean between northwestern Madagascar and northeastern Mozambique. It spans approximately 363 km² (140 sq mi) and features a coastal reef barrier measuring 160 km (99 mi) in length.^[3][4]

The island is underlain by basalt shields formed during Miocene–Pliocene era, and was overlain by later basalt and phonolite domes. Deep valleys were carved by subsequent erosion.^[4][5] The coastline is predominantly steep and cliff-lined, broken by ravines and small bays.^[6] Mount Benara is the tallest feature on the island at 660 m (2,170 ft) while there are several other smaller volcanoes.^[3][7] There are no permanent rivers, and rainfall drains through seasonal gullies into the lagoons and reef flats.^[5] Tropical forest exist on mid‑elevation slopes, scrub and mangroves near coasts, and cultivated land along coastal plains.^[5][7]

Climate

Grande‑Terre has a tropical marine climate with a rainy season (November–May) and dry season (May–November). Average temperatures hover around 25 °C, and rainfall ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 mm (39 to 79 in)/year, increasing with elevation. The island is exposed to tropical cyclones during the November–May wet season, along with landslides, erosion, and occasional seismic activity and submarine volcanism.^[5][7]

Demographics

As of 2010, the island had a population of 186,452 inhabitants.^[1]