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Mayotte[mIot´] Pronunciation Key, island (1995 est. pop. 97,000), 144 sq mi (374 sq km), French territorial collectivity, Indian Ocean, in the Comoro chain. Dzaoudzi is the capital and Mamoudzou is the largest city. The land is gently rolling, with some mountains of ancient volcanic origin and deep ravines. The climate is tropical, with a hot and humid rainy season and a cooler dry season. Nearly all Muslim, the population is of mixed Arab, African, and Malagasy origin. Mahorian, a Swahili dialect, and French are both spoken. The economy is largely agricultural and includes livestock raising and fishing. Mayotte exports perfume oils, vanilla, seafood, coffee, and rice. Much of its food is imported, mainly from France. It became a French possession in 1843. When the Comoros became an independent republic in 1975, Mayotte decided to remain French and the following year it voted to become a territorial collectivity. In 2000 voters approved increased autonomy for Mayotte. It is still claimed by the Comoros Republic.
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