Mayotte , Island and French overseas department, in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. The southeasternmost island of the Comoros archipelago, it is located northwest of Madagascar. Area: 145 sq mi (375 sq km). Population: (2024 est.) 326,700. Capital: Mamoudzou. Most of its people are of Malagasy origin. Originally inhabited by descendants of Bantu and Malayo-Indonesian peoples, it was converted to Islam by Arab invaders in the 15th century. Taken by Malagasy people from Madagascar at the end of the 18th century, it came under French control in 1843. Together with the other Comoros islands and Madagascar, it became part of a single French overseas territory in the early 20th century. It has been administered separately since 1975, when the three northernmost islands of the Comoros declared independence. Mayotte’s status was changed to departmental collectivity in 2001. A local referendum in 2009 approved the change of Mayotte’s status to an overseas department, effective in 2011.
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Indian Ocean Summary
Indian Ocean, body of salt water covering approximately one-fifth of the total ocean area of the world. It is the smallest, geologically youngest, and physically most complex of the world’s three major oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian). It stretches for more than 6,200 miles (10,000 km)
France Summary
France, country of northwestern Europe. Historically and culturally among the most important nations in the Western world, France has also played a highly significant role in international affairs, with former colonies in every corner of the globe. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the