Antananarivo - the capital of what country? The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo

Being in search of the answer to the question of whether Antananarivo is the capital of which country, travelers simultaneously solve the problems associated with the choice of the tour and the month for the trip. All three tasks are equally important, because not every country has favorable conditions for tourists. There are territories in the world where it is dangerous to be because of local military conflicts, spontaneous phenomena. The climate in different regions of the Earth and within one large country has significant differences, which must also be taken into account. The correct choice of the direction and date of the trip helps to make the most of all opportunities for recreation.

Riddles of the political map. Antananarivo - the capital of what country?

On the political map of the world there are 196 independent states. In addition, there are more than 70 unrecognized countries and disputed territories. All names are difficult to remember, especially small republics and monarchies. You can use maps and directories, the Internet to find any geographical object. And if the name changed?

After the conquest of June 26, 1960, the state on the island of Madagascar was called the Malagasy Republic. What is the name of the country printed on modern political maps? What is the administrative center of the state called? Such questions sometimes lead to perplexity of the inhabitants.

Antananarivo - the capital of what country? The question will not catch the teachers of geography. Experienced travelers and lovers of exotic places will also give the correct answer without hesitation: "Antananarivo is the capital of the Republic of Madagascar." The island African state is located to the south of the equator. Its eastern coasts are washed by the Indian Ocean, the western is the Mozambique Channel. Residents of the country mainly speak Malagasy, French and English.

Madagascar on the map

Madagascar is on the fourth place in size among the islands of our planet. It is located to the southeast of the coast of South Africa, separated from the continent by the Mozambique Channel, the deepest in the southern part.

The city of Antananarivo (Madagascar) is almost entirely, with the exception of the extreme south, located in the tropical illumination belt. The length of the island from north to south is about 1600 km, the distance from the west to the east exceeds 600 km. The island of Madagascar on the world map is adjacent to Reunion, Mauritius, the Comorian archipelago of the Indian Ocean.

To date, the island is considered a popular resort. In recent years, the capital Antananarivo, Madagascar as a whole, has gained popularity as a region of diverse and high-quality recreation. Many tourists come here to soak up the rays of the tropical sun. There are inquisitive travelers who seek to find out more about the ancient history of the country, visit famous tourist attractions, join the national traditions.

The best time to visit Madagascar

Being in search of an answer to the question of whether Antananarivo is the capital of which country, travelers simultaneously decide at what time it is better to visit the city? Well, consider it in more detail.

The capital of Madagascar - Antananarivo is located in the region of a humid subequatorial climate. South of 20 ° is dominated by tropical air, more humid on the coast and arid in the mountainous terrain. Dry season on the island begins in late March and lasts until October. At this time, as a rule, it is cooler, the weather is softer. The average daytime temperatures are 15-17 ° C. The best period for a trip to Madagascar is the period from April to November.

Climatic differences in Madagascar

The subequatorial and tropical climate prevails on the island, but there are differences related to geographical location, elevation difference and relief features. In the lowlands throughout the year it is hot, on the plateau the temperatures are moderate. The precipitation is associated with the arrival of the north-eastern monsoons and the southeast trade winds from the ocean.

East coast, facing the Indian Ocean, the slopes of the mountains evenly receive moisture (3000 mm / year). In this part of the island is hot weather, which is characterized by monthly average temperatures of 27 ° C.

When moving from the east coast into the island you can see how the temperature decreases and the amount of precipitation decreases (by 2 times).

In the west and south-west of Madagascar, there is a lack of moisture. For a dry period, high air temperatures (33 ° C) are typical. The most mild climatic conditions in the capital city of Antananarivo. Here the average temperature of the summer month of January is about 20 ° C, and in July it drops to 12 ° C.

The unique nature of the island

Many species of plants and animals of Madagascar are endemic and are found only in this territory. These include lemurs and baobabs, some birds and predators. The fertile soil of the island, a warm, humid climate are favorable for agriculture, including fishing and forestry. The stronghold of the economy of Madagascar - the cultivation and export of coffee, sugar cane, cloves, vanilla, cocoa, rice, bananas, peanuts, livestock products.

The riddle of the name Antananarivo

In ancient times, the locality, where the capital of Madagascar is now, was called Analamanga, which means "blue forest" in Malagasy.

In the colonial period, the city was renamed Tananariva, and now it is often used a shortened form - Tana. It is interesting that the 12 surrounding hills are considered sacred.

It is said that the name Tananarive appeared after a thousand warriors went to guard it in the 17th century. A castle was built, the walls of which have survived to this day. The capital of Madagascar became the city in the XVIII century, and at the end of XIX was captured by the French. During this period, his appearance acquired a French charm, there were many architectural delights and the benefits of civilization.

After the attainment of independence in Madagascar in 1960, the city continued to develop rapidly. In the modern guise of Antananarivo, the features of the historical capital of the African state and the French colony are preserved.

Location Antananarivo

A detailed map of Antananarivo helps to consider the fact that the city is located on the inner plateaus in the center of the island. 12 km from the capital of Madagascar there is a large international airport Iwato. The average height here is about 1400 m.

Antananarivo is the political, administrative and economic center of the island, the largest and most developed city in the country. The streets and buildings in the capital are picturesquely rising up the slopes of the hills. It seems that the stream of houses falls from the mountain.

The city is divided into Upper and Lower parts. The lower city is surrounded by pedestrian boulevards, it is a region of hotels, bars, restaurants, shopping centers, nightclubs.

Sights of the capital of Madagascar

In Antananarivo, a rich and diverse selection of attractions. There are ancient historical monuments and architectural structures. Interactive maps of the city are very much in demand. With their help, you can pre-plan your travel routes to explore and explore all the best that the capital of Madagascar Antananarivo has to offer. Tourists like walking tours, so as not to hurry to enjoy the magnificent views.

In the list of the most important places to visit there are always the following attractions:

• Royal Palace;
• Anglican and the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church (more than 50 churches in the city and its environs);
• mosque;
• Beaches, strewn with soft sand, over which the sun gently shines.

World Heritage sites in Madagascar

Two natural and one cultural object on the island are included in the UNESCO heritage list:

1. In the capital state is located the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga. This is a world-famous historical and archaeological monument associated with the ancient history of the Malagasy people. Half a millennium before the appearance of a European on the island, there was a highly developed civilization, the remains of which are kept by the Royal Hill.
2. On the west coast of Madagascar in the province of Mahadzang there is the Tsingi-de-Bemaraha reserve, which is recognized as a magnificent natural phenomenon. Here, water and wind created a unique karst landscape. According to the canon, which resembles a "stone jungle", a river flows. They inhabit the reserve of lemurs.
3. The phenomenon of Madagascar's nature is the humid tropical forests of Acinanana, listed in the UNESCO list relatively recently (2010).

The list of Madagascar's attractions is supplemented by the Baobab Avenue, national parks and reserves, workshops of folk crafts and jewelry, picturesque bays and islands in the ocean.