An exceptional marine park
Officially created on 21 January 2010, the Mayotte Marine Park is the first natural marine park in overseas France. With a surface area of 1,100 km², it has nearly 200 km of coral reefs and 7 km² of mangrove swamps and as many sea grass 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 marine turtles (green and hawksbill turtles). Beyond the protection of the environment, it is also a useful tool for the study of tropical marine ecosystems and the mangrove swamp of Mayotte. From a tourist point of view, it is a showcase that should benefit the island. From a geopolitical point of view, it allows France to take part in the Earth Summits organised every ten years since 1972 and which aim to find solutions to protect 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, sea breams, jacks, sharks grow and allow fishermen to have a great time. It is different from the lagoon, a rich but fragile environment formed by the accumulation over millions of years of the skeleton of a small animal, the polyp, to form a coral reef about 160 km long and which surrounds the whole of Mayotte depending on the location. The water in the lagoon is calm and has an average temperature of 27°C but life is exuberant. This coral belt is interspersed in some places with passes allowing access to the interior of the lagoon for boats. It differs from other lagoons by the presence in the south of a double barrier reef 18 km long that can be seen in only two other places in the world (New Caledonia and Fiji). Along its coasts, Mayotte is bordered by the fringing reef which allows, from the beach or the mangrove, to have a first drop off where multicoloured fish and corals compete in colours.
The saving mangrove
On the border between land and sea, the mangrove covers almost three quarters of the Maorean shoreline. 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 the coral from suffocating. Composed of seven different species of mangroves, it acts as a filter for the lagoon and also plays the role of nursery. More than 70% of the fish come to shelter their young from predators in the mangrove. Life there is rich in lessons. Some mangrove trees manage to oxygenate themselves even at high tide thanks to their aerial roots or pneumatophores turned towards the sky. Crabs and some oysters are present. There is also the famous periophthalmus, an atypical fish able to breathe outside the water and which uses its fins to move on land, as it cannot stay more than 10 minutes underwater.
The maki, an emblematic animal of the archipelago
The Eulemur Fulvus Mayottensis was most likely brought from Madagascar, which is a lemur sanctuary, itself detached from the Indian continent 65 million years ago. Very agile and very intelligent, it is a great animal! You can recognize it by its yellow eyes, its brown coat and its long tail. It sometimes comes to steal bananas in hotels, and you can hear it screaming in the forests. He is not mean and will be happy to come and ask for some bananas with his little hands. It is enough that there are large trees for the makis to be present, especially in Mamoudzou near the hospital. During the day, they spend most of their time sleeping, resting, thus avoiding the hot hours of the day. They become more active when the weather is better.
Fruit trees in the heart of the forest
Taking advantage of a hot and humid tropical climate, fruit trees grow vigorously on the soil of Mauritius. Among the most common species on the archipelago is the breadfruit tree. This tree with large green leaves produces large round fruits that are eaten cooked, boiled or fried, like potatoes. Another essential of the landscape: the banana tree. Main production on Mayotte, the banana is almost omnipresent (about 10 000 hectares planted). The fruit is eaten green and cooked mainly as a vegetable. There are more than 34 different varieties on Maoré. Another emblem of the island with generous curves and sweet fruits: the baobab. According to botanists, their roundness allows them to store the maximum amount of water sheltered from evaporation and thus to be adapted to the driest regions. A curiosity: its white flowers are fertilized by red bats which spray them with pollen with their wings. There are also mango trees, letchis, badamiers, jackfruit trees..
The archipelago of scents
Nicknamed "the island of perfumes", Mayotte has conquered the hearts of the greatest perfumers. Today, the botanical gardens in the heart of the island allow you to discover the species that delight our nostrils, especially the cinnamon tree. The bark, harvested all year round, the best of which is that of the branches, will be ground to give cinnamon, much appreciated in confectionery. The frangipani tree (Plumeria) is one of the most beautiful tropical trees with its white, fragrant and medicinal flowers. The clove tree originating from the Moluccas only thrives near the sea. Its bark and leaves contain a very fragrant oil. Cloves produce an oil used in perfumery, but especially in pharmacy. Nutmeg has very fragrant leaves, and its fruit contains a nut. Nutmeg is also used in charcuterie and in pharmacy (it is anti-rheumatic). Ylang-ylang, with its six-petalled yellow flowers, covers entire forests and perfumes a whole valley. Its essential oil allows the perfume to be better fixed, which can then be used to add other scents and create more complex fragrances. Finally, vanilla is the second source of income of the island. From the orchid family, it comes from Mexico where the Aztecs seem to have been the first to appreciate it in perfuming their chocolate.
