Madagascar A large island country lying 450–900 km (280–560 miles) distant from the south-east African coast, to which it runs parallel.

Physical

A broad plain in the west rises to the Ankaratra Mountains, which slope steeply eastward to the Indian Ocean. The eastern coast is hot, very wet, subject to cyclones, and densely clad with rainforest. As a result of the island becoming separated from Africa during the period of continental drift, many of its plant and animal species, for example lemurs (prosimians), are unique.

Economy

Economic activity in Madagascar is mainly agricultural: coffee, vanilla, and cloves are major exports. Rice, cassava, and sweet potatoes are the chief food crops; cattle-breeding is extensive. Mining of chrome ore is significant, and there are bauxite deposits. An oil refinery produces petroleum-based products. Industry is limited mostly to food-processing.

History

The Madagascan people are of Indo-Melanesian and Malay descent, mixed with some Bantu, Arabs, Indians, and Chinese. The time of arrival of different groups is controversial. Arab traders were probably visiting by the 10th century. In 1500 a Portuguese sea captain, Diego Dias, chanced on the island, calling it São Lourenço. However, Marco Polo had already named it Madagascar from hearsay knowledge, and this name endured. In the following centuries Dutch, English, and Portuguese vessels made frequent visits, and the French set up trading centres. Many of these were used as pirate bases. By the beginning of the 17th century a number of small Malagasy kingdoms emerged, and later the Sakalawa, from the west of the island, conquered northern and western Madagascar, but their kingdom disintegrated in the 18th century. The Merina people of the interior were later united under King Andrianampoinimerina (ruled 1787–1810), and became the dominant group on the island by the early 19th century.

In 1860 King Radama II gave concessions to a French trading company. This led in 1890 to a French Protectorate, although resistance lasted until 1895. After 1945 Madagascar became an Overseas Territory of the French Republic, sending Deputies to Paris. It became a republic in 1958, and regained its independence (1960) as the Malagasy Republic, changing its name back to Madagascar in 1975. Severe social and economic problems caused recurrent unrest and frequent changes of government. Admiral Didier Ratsiraka was elected President in 1982 and again in 1989, working closely with a Supreme Revolutionary Council. Although he ended one-party rule in 1990, there were anti-government riots in April 1991. In October 1991 the Revolutionary Council and National Assembly were both dissolved, pending agreement on a new constitution. The new multiparty constitution was adopted in 1992 and Albert Zafy became President following elections in 1993. In 1996 he was impeached, and later defeated in presidential elections by Ratsiraka.

Antananarivo or Tananarive , city (1993 pop. 675,669), capital of Madagascar. Antananarivo is Madagascar's largest city and is its administrative, communications, and economic center. It is the trade center for a productive agricultural region, whose main crop is rice. Railroads connect Antananarivo with Toamasina, the country's chief port, and Antsirabe. Its manufactures include food products (especially meat), beverages, cigarettes, and textiles. Antananarivo was founded c.1625 as a walled citadel. In 1797 it was made the fixed residence of the Merina rulers. The conquests of the Merina king Radama I (reigned 1810–28) made Antananarivo the capital of almost all Madagascar. The city was captured by the French in 1895 and incorporated into their Madagascar protectorate. The city is built on the slopes of a ridge that rises to c.4,700 ft (1,430 m). At the top of the ridge is the former Merina royal residence (destroyed by by fire in 1995); below, in descending order, are the administrative and financial areas and the commercial quarter. The Univ. of Madagascar (1961) and the Collège Rural d'Ambatobe are there as well as a Pasteur Institute and an astronomical observatory.

Antananarivo, Madagascar Analamànga, Tananarive Founded in the 17th century, its original name meant ‘Blue Forest’. The present name means ‘City of a Thousand’ from the Malagasy an, a prefix signifying the name of a place, tanàna ‘town’, and arìvo ‘thousand’. Tananarive is the French version of the name. It was used from 1895, when the island was colonized by the French, until 1975 when the island's name was changed back to Madagascar.

Antananarivo (Tananarive) Capital and largest city of Madagascar. Founded in c.1625, the city became the residence for Imerina rulers in 1794 and the capital of Madagascar. Antananarivo was taken by the French in 1895, and became part of a French protectorate. It is the seat of the University of Madagascar (1961). A trade centre for a rice-producing region, it has textile, tobacco, and leather industries. Pop. (1993) 1,052,835.