Geography of Madagascar
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Missing image Satellite_image_of_Madagascar_in_September_2003.jpg Satellite image of Madagascar |
Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa.
Location : Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique.
Geographic coordinates: Template:Coor dm
Map references: Africa
Area:
total:
587,040 km²
land:
581,540 km²
water:
5,500 km²
The highest point is Maromokotro, in the Tsaratanana Massif region in the north of the island, at 2,876 metres. The capital, Antananarivo, is in the Hauts Plateaux near the centre of the island.
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Climate
The climate is tropical along the coast, temperate inland, and arid in the south. The weather is dominated by the southeastern trade winds, with the east coast having the heaviest rainfall. The rainy season is November to March. The east and north experience storms and cyclones brought by the monsoons from December to March. The central mountains are warm with thunder storms from November to April, and are dry and cool the rest of the year.
Natural Resources
Madagascar has a number of natural resources, including graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones and mica. There are also fishing areas offshore, and potential for hydropower.
In 2001, it was estimated that 5.07% of the land area was used for arable land, 1.03% had permanent crops. Due to slash and burn agriculture, only 26% of the land remains forested.
The majority of the population depend on subsistence farming, largely rice and cattle. The manufacturing sector is small but growing.
Environmental issues
Madagascar is currently suffering in some areas from soil erosion as a result of deforestation and overgrazing, desertification, and contamination of surface water with raw sewage and organic waste. Several species of flora and fauna that are unique to the islands are endangered. Regular cyclones cause flooding in low lying coastal regions.
Population
Madagascar has a population of 17,501,871. The average population density is 30 people per sq. kilometer. Only 31 percent of the population is urban. Antanarivo has the highest population. Major ethnic groups are the Merina, who make up 27%, and the Betsileo, who make 12 percent. 48% of people follow traditional beliefs. 49% are Christian, and 2% is Muslim.