An exceptional marine park
Officially created on January 21, 2010, the Parc Marin de Mayotte is the first natural marine park in overseas France. Covering an area of 1,100 km², it includes almost 200 km of coral reefs, 7 km² of mangrove swamps and as many seagrass beds. It is home to 2,300 marine species, including 760 species of fish, 300 varieties of coral, 22 species of marine mammals, and 2 species of sea turtle (green turtle and hawksbill turtle). As well as protecting the environment, it is also a useful tool for studying Mayotte's tropical marine ecosystems and mangroves. From a tourism point of view, it's a showcase that should benefit the island. From a geopolitical point of view, it gives France a seat at the Earth Summits, organized every ten years since 1972 to find solutions for protecting the marine environment through the sustainable conservation of marine biological resources.
A wide variety of marine ecosystems
Off the islands, above the abyssal depths of the ocean (3,000 m), lies the ocean environment. This is the domain of large predators and marine mammals. Marlins, swordfish, sailfish, bream, trevally and sharks all thrive here, giving fishermen a field day. The lagoon is a rich but fragile environment, formed over millions of years by the accumulation of the skeleton of a small animal, the polyp, to form a coral reef some 160 km long, which surrounds the whole of Mayotte, depending on location. The water in the lagoon is calm, with an average temperature of 27°C, but life is exuberant. This coral belt is intersected in certain places by passes that allow boats to access the lagoon's interior. The lagoon is distinguished from other lagoons by the presence of an 18 km-long double barrier reef to the south, which can only be found in two other places in the world (New Caledonia and the Fiji Islands). Along its coastline, Mayotte is bordered by the fringing reef, which gives access from the beach or mangrove to a first drop-off where multicolored fish and coral compete in color.
The saving mangrove
At the boundary between land and sea, mangroves cover almost three-quarters of the island's coastline. It is now a protected area, as it is essential to the island's ecosystem: during heavy rains, it stops and slows down silting and prevents coral asphyxiation. Made up of seven different mangrove species, it acts as a filter for the lagoon and also acts as a nursery. More than 70% of the fish come to the mangrove to protect their young from predators. Life here is rich in lessons. Some mangrove trees still manage to oxygenate themselves even at high tide, thanks to their aerial roots or pneumatophores, which face skywards. Crabs and a few oysters can be found here. You'll also find the famous periophthalmus, an atypical fish that can breathe outside the water and uses its fins to move on land, as it can't stay underwater for more than 10 minutes.
The maki, an emblematic animal of the archipelago
The Eulemur Fulvus Mayottensis was most probably brought here from Madagascar, which is a lemur sanctuary and was itself detached from the Indian continent 65 million years ago. Very agile and very intelligent, it's a great animal! You can recognize it by its yellow eyes, brown coat and long tail. It sometimes steals bananas from hotels, and can be heard screaming in forests. He's not vicious, and will happily come and claim a few bananas with his little hands. If there are tall trees, makis are usually present, especially in Mamoudzou near the hospital. During the day, they spend most of their time sleeping and resting, avoiding the hot hours of the day. They become more active when the weather's better.
Fruit trees in the heart of the forest
Benefiting from a hot, humid tropical climate, fruit trees grow vigorously in the soil of Mauritius. Among the most common species on the archipelago is the breadfruit tree. This tree with its broad green leaves produces large, round fruit that can be eaten boiled or fried, like potatoes. The banana tree is another essential part of the landscape. Mayotte's main crop, bananas are almost ubiquitous (some 10,000 hectares planted). The fruit is eaten green and cooked mainly as a vegetable. There are over 34 different varieties on Maoré. Another emblem of the island, with its generous curves and sweet fruit, is the baobab. According to botanists, their curves enable them to store a maximum amount of water away from evaporation, making them ideal for the driest regions. A curiosity: its white flowers are pollinated by red bats, which spray them with pollen from their wings. There are also mango, letch, badamier and jackfruit trees..
The archipelago of scents
Nicknamed the "perfume island", Mayotte has captured the hearts of the greatest perfumers. Today, in the botanical gardens in the heart of the island, you can discover the species that delight our nostrils, in particular the cinnamon tree. The bark, harvested all year round, the best of which is that of the branches, is ground to produce cinnamon, much appreciated in confectionery. The frangipani (Plumeria) is one of the most beautiful tropical trees, with its fragrant, medicinal white flowers. The clove tree, native to the Moluccas, thrives only near the sea. Its bark and leaves contain a highly fragrant oil. Cloves produce an oil used in perfumery, but above all in pharmacy. Nutmeg has very fragrant leaves, and its fruit contains a nut. Nutmeg is also used in charcuterie and pharmacy (it is anti-rheumatic). Ylang-ylang, with its six-petaled yellow flowers, covers entire forests, perfuming an entire valley. Its essential oil enables the perfume to be better fixed, allowing other scents to be added and more complex fragrances to be created. Finally, vanilla is the island's second-largest source of income. A member of the orchid family, it originated in Mexico, where the Aztecs seem to have been the first to appreciate it as a flavoring for their chocolate.
