Madagascar
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean of 28 million. At 592,800 square kilometers, Madagascar is the world's second-largest island country. First settled at the end of the sixth century, it greatly grew in population when the French first established settlements on the island in 1642 and made it a colony in 1896. The country gained full independence as the Malagasy Republic in 1960 and was renamed Madagascar in 1975. Madagascar has many animals not found anywhere else, such as unique species of lemur, fossa, butterflies, and globefish. The world's fourth largest island is also home to a wide array of unique natural wonders that you won't see anywhere else on earth, ranging from stone forests, ancient rock plateaus, otherworldly looking trees and much more. Madagascar is home to all sorts of amazing wonders - let's take a visit in today's update and see what this one of a kind country has to offer.
We'll begin in the country's largest and capital city, Antananarivo. Meaning "The city of thousands", Antananarivo is located in Madagascar's central highlands and is home to some 1.3 million people. Founded in the 17th century, it was formerly the capital of the Hova Chiefs and has a rich colonial history. Today, the city's historic center is home to a unique blend of architecture, representing its French roots with a blend of traditional design.
Madagascar's central highlands are home to all sorts of wonders - so we set out and begin our excursion. Along our way, small, circular farming villages can be seen for miles around - they're a popular design to make the most of the rural landscape while also providing easy access to the surrounding fields.
Much of Madagascar's eastern border on the Indian Ocean is heavily forested - and our trip takes us along the edge of the massive Masoala Forest. It's one of the region's best preserved rain forests and is home to all sorts of unique species of plants and animals.
After several days of driving through the interior bushland, we've arrived at one of Madagascar's most unique and iconic sights - the Avenue of the Baobabs. The dirt road on the west coast of Madagascar linking Morondava and Belo Tsiribihina is framed by dozens of rare and ancient baobab trees, one of the world's largest trees. These amazing trees have to be seen to be believed - they're truly a sight to behold.
Another one of Madagascar's most impressive natural wonders is Isalo Massif. This massive plateau in the interior of the country has been eroded by wind and water, resulting in deep canyons, sandstone domes, flat-topped mountains and “runiform” mountains - steep sided outcrops that have been dissected into odd-shapes. Isalo National Park was established in 1962 to protect this magical landscape, and over the years it's gained in popularity with tourists and rock climbers.
Another one of Madagascar's most famed rock formations is the distinctive Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve. Karstic landscapes and limestone uplands cut into impressive 'tsingy' peaks and a stone 'forest' of limestone needles, along with the spectacular canyon of the Manambolo river, rolling hills and high peaks. The undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps are the habitat for rare and endangered lemurs and birds. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 due to the unique geography, preserved mangrove forests, and wild bird and lemur populations, it's one of Madagascar's most iconic destinations.
After exploring the interior of the country, we've finally made our way to Madagascar's western coastline - which is where we'll see our final two sights. The Mozambique Channel is home to some amazing beaches - shallow waters along the country's waterfront are dotted with countless pristine lagoons, inlets, islands, lakes, and much more to explore.
We travel further north, reaching our final destination - the mesmerizing Bombetoka Bay. Located on the northwestern coast of Madagascar, this red-orange hued bay is formed by the salty waters of the Mozambique Channel penetrating inland with the freshwater outflow of the Betsiboka River. Numerous islands and sandbars have formed in the estuary from the large amount of sediment carried in by the Betsiboka River and have been shaped by the flow of the river and the push and pull of tides. When viewed from above, it's truly one of the region's most awe-inspiring sights.
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-korver
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