Introduction
Madagascar is a huge island located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. Below we have listed several interesting facts, written for kids and adults, about Madagascar which is one of the most amazing Africa landforms. This information includes where its tropical rainforest is located, what its capital is, and when its rainy season is.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about Madagascar.
List of Madagascar Facts
- Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, approximately 226,656 square miles (587,040 square kilometers). The only larger islands are Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo.
- Madagascar has two seasons, a hot rainy season which starts in November and last until April and a cooler dry season which starts in May and last until October.
- One of the most interesting Madagascar facts listed here is that almost all oF the animal and plant species found on the island are unique to the island. These plants and animals have evolved into some of the oddest forms found on earth.
- There is a tropical rainforest on the eastern side of the island.
- The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo. It is also the islands most populated city.
- The population of Madagascar is approximately 21,281,844 (2010 estimate).
- Madagascar is a poor country. The people face many problems including malnutrition, poor health care, and a poor educational system.
- The island has a narrow coastal plain which gets higher as it gets inland. In the center of the island are mountains.
- The islands highest mountain is Maromokotro. It is 2,876 meters high (9,435 feet).
- Most of the population (52%) maintain their indigenous religious beliefs, 41% are Christian, and 7% are Islam.
- The island has two official languages, Malagasy and French.
- Millions of years ago Madagascar was part of the African continent. Over time it broke away and reached the location it is in now (approximately two million years ago).
- Madagascar has lost approximately ninety percent of its original forest land since humans arrived on the island about two thousand years ago.
- From 1895 until 1958 Madagascar was under French rule.
- Madagascar has gone by many names. Upon gaining its freedom in 1958 it named itself the Malagasy Republic, it renamed itself the Democratic Republic of Madagascar in 1975, and changed its name again in 1993 to the Republic of Madagascar.
- Madagascar was home to the largest bird in the world, the elephant bird, until it became extinct in the 17th century. It is believed to have been over ten feet tall (3 meters).