MadagascarMadagascar

Continent: Continent: L’AfriqueL’Afrique

Par: Samantha Par: Samantha AndrewsAndrews

Important FactsImportant Facts

Capital is Antananarivo, also largest cityCapital is Antananarivo, also largest city Official languages are Malagasy, French, and Official languages are Malagasy, French, and

EnglishEnglish Population is 21.93 million, main tribes are Merina, Population is 21.93 million, main tribes are Merina,

Betsileo, Betsimisaraka, Antandroy, TsimihetyBetsileo, Betsimisaraka, Antandroy, Tsimihety Half of religion is indigenous beliefs, 41% are Half of religion is indigenous beliefs, 41% are

ChristianChristian About 240 miles southeast of Africa in the Indian About 240 miles southeast of Africa in the Indian

OceanOcean

GeographyGeography

• Central plateau rises 4,500 feet• Highest peak is Mount Maromokoto at 9,436 feet• Along coast, climate is tropical, inland is temperate, and south is

arid • Animals include chameleons, tortoises, lemurs, and fossas• Thousands of medicinal plants including rose periwinkle (the source

of 2 anticancer drugs)

Key Dates/HistoryKey Dates/History Indonesian immigrants moved to island before Indonesian immigrants moved to island before

ChristChrist Became a French colony in 1869Became a French colony in 1869 In 1958, it became a self governing state in French In 1958, it became a self governing state in French

communitycommunity Philbert Tsiranana was elected 1Philbert Tsiranana was elected 1stst president in 1959 president in 1959 In 1975, country changed its name from Malagasy In 1975, country changed its name from Malagasy

Republic to Madagascar Republic to Madagascar

Main Tourist Attractions

Not many tourist attractions but plenty of different dishes to tryMeal without rice is considered incompleteMeals are served with loaka (meat, fish, vegetables, of broth)Common drink is golden water (boiled in brown rice that sticks to the bottom of the pan after cooking)Desserts include fruits such as mangos, pineapples, papaya, guava, strawberries, peaches, apples, oranges and grapes

Famous PeopleFamous People

Jean-Joseph Ravearivelo is a Jean-Joseph Ravearivelo is a famous poetfamous poet

Claude Simon wrote letricheur Claude Simon wrote letricheur and has a Nobel prize in and has a Nobel prize in literatureliterature

Francois Bayle, in 1974, Francois Bayle, in 1974, developed the Acousmonium (a developed the Acousmonium (a loud speaker orchestraloud speaker orchestra

Have you ever been to Madagascar?

Well come on down and see our beautiful flora and

fauna!!

Work Citedcitation

• World book student • Contributor: • Bruce S. Fetter, Ph.D., Professor of History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. 

• How to cite this article: To cite this article, World Book recommends the following format: 

• Fetter, Bruce S. "Madagascar." World Book Student. World Book, 2011. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.

• World book discover How to cite this article:• To cite this article, World Book recommends the following format:• "Madagascar."  World Book Discover. World Book, 2011. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.

• Culture grams world edition • http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country.php?

contid=1&wmn=Africa&cid=94&cn=Madagascar