MAYOTTE

in full Territorial Collectivity Of Mayotte, French Collectivit Territoriale De Mayotte, also called Mahor, southeasternmost island of the Comoros archipelago and a French dependency, situated in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean, about 193 miles (310 km) northwest of Madagascar. Pamandzi, an islet lying about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) east of Mayotte, is connected by a 1.2-mile causeway to the rocky outcrop known as Dzaoudzi, site of the capital city and port. Area 144 square miles (373 square km). Pop. (1991 est.) 85,800. A volcanic mountain range forms a north-south chain on Mayotte island, with summits of from 1,600 to 2,000 feet (500 to 600 m) in elevation. Protected waters for shipping and fishing are created by surrounding coral reefs some distance from the shore. The climate is warm, humid, and maritime, and average monthly temperatures range from 75 F (24 C) in August to 81 F (27 C) in December. The island's average annual rainfall is 200 inches (5,000 mm). The vegetation comprises lush green tropical forest.