Lidt facts om Madagaskar

Madagaskar generelt

   

Capital

Antananarivo
Government Republic
Currency ariary (MGA)
Area total: 587,040 km2
water: 5,500 km2
land: 581,540 km2
Population 21,095,469 (July 2007 est.)
Language Malagasy (national&official), English (offical), French (official)
Religion Indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Calling Code +261
Internet TLD .mg
Time Zone UTC+3

Madagascar is a country that occupies a large island of the same name, located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa .
It is the fourth largest island in the world.
Madagascar is famous for pepper, vanilla and lemurs.

Regions

The country has six provinces (faritany) - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, and Toliara.

Cities

Antananarivo Capital city

Andoany (also commonly known as Hell-Ville) - Toa masina - Morondova
 Fianarantsoa - Toliara - Mahajanga - Antsiranana - Taolagnaro - Antsirabe
 Ambositra - Manakara - Vatomandry

The Malagasy people are generally considered to be patriotic. When Madagascar gained independence from France, the Malagasy changed much within the culture and languages, returning back to their original customs and traditions again. Today, Malagasy is the daily language spoken by 98% of the population in Madagascar, and since 1972, Malagasy language has been used as the teaching language in schools. However, some of Malagasy people are familiar or even fluent with foreign languages such as English, French, or German.

Toamasina

Toamasina is the capital of the Atsinanana region
and
of the Toamasina Province .

It is the chief Seaport of Madagascar , situated nearly on the centre of the eastern coast. It has population of 179,045 (2001 census).

It owes its importance to the existence of a coral reef  which forms a spacious and fairly commodious harbour, entered by two openings. The town is built on a sandy peninsula which projects at right angles from the general coast-line. On this are crowded together a considerable number of houses, with good shops and merchants offices in the main thoroughfares.

It has wide palm tree lined avenues and selection of hotels and restaurants. The beaches in this area are beautiful, although sharks and pollution prevent swimming. Bazary Be is one of its colorful street markets. Here you can buy everything from exotic spices to handicrafts. The central market in the heart of the city is one of the most popular sites in the city. The city is home to the University of Madagascar which is part of Madagascar's public university system.

Under French domination, Toamasina was the seat of several foreign consuls, as well as of numerous French officials, and was the chief port for the capital and the interior. Imports consisted principally of piece-goods, farinaceous foods, and iron and steel goods, and exports of gold dust, raffia, hides, caoutchouc (rubber ) and live animals. Communication with Europe was maintained by steamers of the Messageries Maritimes and the Havraise companies, and also with Mauritius and from thence to Sri Lanka , by the British Union Castle Line .

Owing to the character of the soil and the formerly crowded native population, the town has often been attacked by epidemics: the plague broke out in 1898, and again in 1900; but since the draining of the neighboring marshes, there has been improvement. After 1895 the native population was removed from the town and settled in a new village to the north-west. A telegraph, 180 miles in length, connects Tamatave with the capital. There is also a service, partly by railway and partly by steamer, along the coast lagoons, connecting the port with Antananarivo .