Mayotte

Mayotte is an overseas department and region of France located in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique, consisting of a main island and several smaller islets surrounded by a coral reef lagoon. It became France's 101st department in 2011 after a referendum, making it the newest French department and the only one located in the Southern Hemisphere. The territory is known for its rich marine biodiversity, including one of the world's largest enclosed lagoons, and serves as an important French presence in the strategically significant Mozambique Channel.