Editing Geography of Madagascar (section)

==Geographical regions==
[[File:Madagascar topo.jpg|thumb|left|Land coverage (left) and topographical (right) maps of Madagascar]]
Madagascar can be divided into five general geographical regions: the east coast, the Tsaratanana Massif, the Central Highlands, the west coast, and the southwest. The highest elevations parallel the east coast.<ref name=LC>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/madagascar/7.htm|title=Madagascar-GEOGRAPHY|website=countrystudies.us|publisher=U. S. Library of Congress|access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref> The total size is {{convert|587040|km2}}, which makes it the world's second largest [[List of island countries|island country]].<ref name="world-atlas">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-island-countries-of-the-world.html |title=Island Countries Of The World |publisher=WorldAtlas.com |access-date=2019-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207094959/http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-island-countries-of-the-world.html | archive-date=2017-12-07}}</ref>

===East coast===
The east coast consists of a narrow band of lowlands about {{convert|50|km|spell=in}} wide, formed from the [[sedimentation]] of [[Alluvium|alluvial soils]], and an intermediate zone composed of steep bluffs alternating with ravines bordering an escarpment of about {{convert|500|m|ft|0}} in elevation, which gives access to the Central Highlands. The coastal region runs roughly from north of Baie d'Antongil, the most prominent feature on the [[Masoala National Park|Masoala]] Peninsula, to the far north of the island. The coastline is straight, with the exception of a bay, offering less in the way of natural harbors than the west coast.<ref name=LC/>

The [[Canal des Pangalanes]], an {{convert|800|km|mi|0|adj=on}}-long lagoon formed naturally by the washing of sand up on the island by the Indian Ocean currents and by the silting of rivers, is a feature of the coast; it has been used both as a means of transportation up and down the coast and as a fishing area. The beach slopes steeply into deep water. The east coast is considered dangerous for swimmers and sailors because of the large number of sharks that frequent the shoreline.<ref name=LC/>

===Tsaratanana Massif===
The Tsaratanana Massif region at the north end of the island contains [[Maromokotro]], the highest point on the island at {{convert|2880|m|ft|0}}. Further north is the [[Montagne d'Ambre]] (Ambohitra), which is of volcanic origin. The coastline is deeply indented; two prominent features are the natural harbor at [[Antsiranana]] (Diego Suárez), just south of the Cap d'Ambre (Tanjon' i Bobaomby), and the large island of [[Nosy Be]] to the west. The mountainous topography of the Tsaratanana Massif limits the potential of the port at Antsiranana by impeding the flow of traffic from other parts of the island.<ref name=LC/> They are a focus for [[big wall climbing]].

===Central Highlands===
{{Main|Central Highlands (Madagascar)}}
[[File:Landscape Madagascar 01.jpg|thumb|Village in the central highlands]]
The Central Highlands, which range from {{convert|800|to|1800|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in elevation, contain a wide variety of topographies: rounded and eroded hills, massive granite outcrops, extinct volcanoes, eroded peneplains, and alluvial plains and marshes, which have been converted into irrigated rice fields. The Central Highlands extend from the Tsaratanana Massif in the north to the Ivakoany Massif in the south. They are defined rather clearly by the escarpments along the east coast, and they slope gently to the west coast. The Central Highlands include the Anjafy High Plateaus; the volcanic formations of Itasy ([[Lake Itasy]] is in a volcanic crater) and the Ankaratra Massif, reaching a height of {{convert|2643|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. The Isalo Ruiniform Massif lies between the central highlands and the west coast.<ref name=LC/>

Antananarivo, the national capital, is located in the northern portion of the Central Highlands at {{convert|1276|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level. A prominent feature of the Central Highlands is a [[rift valley]] running north to south, located east of Antananarivo and including [[Lake Alaotra|Lac Alaotra]], the largest body of water on the island. The lake is located {{convert|761|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level and is bordered by two cliffs, rising {{convert|701|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} to the west and {{convert|488|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} to the east, which form the walls of a valley. This region has experienced geological [[subsidence]], and earth tremors are frequent.<ref name=LC/>

===West coast===
The west coast, composed of sedimentary formations, is more indented than the east coast, thus offering a number of harbors sheltered from cyclones, such as the harbor at [[Mahajanga]]. Deep bays and well-protected harbors have attracted explorers, traders, and [[Pirate|pirates]] from [[Europe]], [[Africa]], and the [[Middle East]] since ancient times; thus, the area has served as an important bridge between Madagascar and the outside world. Silting up of harbors on this coast, caused by sediment from the high levels of erosion suffered inland in Madagascar, is a major problem. The broad alluvial plains found on the coast between Mahajanga and [[Toliara]], which are believed to have great agricultural potential, are thinly inhabited, in many places covered with swamps of [[Madagascar mangroves]], and remain largely unexplored, although they are the subject of mineral and [[hydrocarbon exploration]] activity. The giant oil fields of [[Tsimiroro]] (heavy oil) and [[Bemolanga]] (ultra heavy oil) lie towards the west of the island.<ref name=LC/>

===Southwest===
The southwest is bordered on the east by the Ivakoany Massif and on the north by the Isalo Ruiniform Massif. It includes two regions along the south coast, the Mahafaly Plateau and the desert region occupied by the [[Antandroy]] people.<ref name=LC/>