Editing Geography of Madagascar

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{{About|the island itself|the nation on the island|Madagascar}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2016}}
{{Country geography 
|name = Madagascar
|map = Madagascar_sat.png
|continent = [[Africa]]
|region = [[Indian Ocean]]
|coordinates = {{Coord|20|00|S|47|00|E|type:country}}
|area ranking = 46th
|km area = 587041
|percent land = 99.7
|km coastline = 4828
|borders = None
|highest point = [[Maromokotro]] <br> {{convert|2876|m|feet}}
|lowest point = [[Indian Ocean]] <br> 0 m 
|longest river = [[Mangoky River|Mangoky]]
|largest lake = [[Lake Alaotra|Alaotra]]
|exclusive economic zone = {{convert|1,225,259|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
}}
'''Madagascar''' is a large [[island]] in the [[Indian Ocean]] located {{convert|400|km|mi}} off the eastern coast of [[Southern Africa]],<ref>{{cite web |title=About Madagascar |url=http://www.air-mad.com/about_location.html |work=Cortez USA Tours & Travel |date=2012 |access-date=July 24, 2017}}</ref> east of [[Mozambique]]. It has a total area of {{convert|587040|km2}} with {{convert|581540|km2}} of land and {{convert|6900|km2}} of water. Madagascar is the [[list of islands by area|fourth-largest island]] in the world.<ref name="world-atlas"/> The highest point is [[Maromokotro]], in the [[Tsaratanana]] Massif region in the north of the island, at {{convert|2876|m}}.

The [[Republic of Madagascar]] is the [[list of island countries|second-largest island country]] in the world.<ref name="world-atlas"/> Its capital [[Antananarivo]] is in the [[Central Highlands (Madagascar)|Central Highlands]] near the centre of the island. It has the 25th largest [[exclusive economic zone]] of {{convert|1,225,259|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.

==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/>

==Rivers and lakes==
{{main|List of rivers of Madagascar|List of lakes of Madagascar}}
The [[Mananara River|Mananara]] and [[Mangoro River|Mangoro]] rivers flow from the Central Highlands to the east coast, as does the [[Maningory River|Maningory]], which flows from [[Lake Alaotra]]. Other rivers flowing east into the [[Indian Ocean]] include the [[Bemarivo River|Bemarivo]], the [[Ivondro River|Ivondro]], and the [[Mananjary River|Mananjary]]. These rivers tend to be short because the [[Drainage divide|watershed]] is located close to the east coast. Owing to the steep elevations, they flow rapidly, often over spectacular waterfalls.

The rivers flowing to the west coast discharge into the [[Mozambique Channel]] and tend to be lengthier and have a lesser gradient. The major rivers on the west coast are the Sambirano, the [[Mahajamba River|Mahajamba]], the [[Betsiboka River|Betsiboka]] (part of [[Mahajanga]] is located at the mouth), the [[Mania River|Mania]], the [[Mahavavy River|North]] and [[South Mahavavy]], the [[Mangoky River|Mangoky]], and the [[Onilahy River|Onilahy]]. The [[Ikopa River|Ikopa]], which flows past Antananarivo, is a tributary of the Betsiboka. The Onilahy, located in the driest part of the island, occasionally dries up during droughts.

Important lakes, aside from Alaotra, include [[Lake Kinkony]] in the northwest, [[Lake Itasy]] in the center and [[Lake Ihotry]] in the southwest.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Majahilo River 01.jpg|Majahilo river at [[Miandrivazo]]
File:Estuaries, Northwest Coast of Madagascar.JPG|This astronaut photograph highlights two estuaries along the north-western coastline of Madagascar
File:Tsiribihina River.jpg|[[Tsiribihina River]]
File:Lake Tritriva 01.jpg|[[Lake Tritiva]]
</gallery>

==Geographic features==
===Somali Plate===
Madagascar originated as part of the [[Gondwana]] supercontinent. Its west coast was formed when Africa broke off from Gondwana around 165 million years ago. Madagascar eventually broke off from [[Indian Plate|India]] about 88 million years ago. It is geologically located within the [[Somali Plate]].

===Soils===

Madagascar has been called the "Great Red Island" because of the prominence of red [[Laterite|lateritic]] soils. The red soils predominate the Central Highlands, although there are much richer soils in the regions of former volcanic activity, [[Itasy Region|Itasy]] and [[Ankaratra]], and [[Tsaratanana]] to the north. A narrow band of [[alluvial]] soils is found all along the east coast and at the mouths of the major rivers on the west coast; clay, sand, and [[limestone]] mixtures are found in the west; and shallow or skeletal laterite and limestone are located in the south. [[Deforestation]] and grazing cause aggressive [[erosion]] in many locations.<ref name=LC/>

===Tidal Flats===
A 2019 global remote sensing  analysis suggested that there were {{convert|1748|km2}} of tidal flats in Madagascar, making it the 18th ranked country in terms of how much tidal flat occurs there.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=N.J. |last2=Phinn |first2=S.R. |last3=DeWitt |first3=M. |last4=Ferrari |first4=R. |last5=Johnston |first5=R. |last6=Lyons |first6=M.B. |last7=Clinton |first7=N. |last8=Thau |first8=D. |last9=Fuller |first9=R.A. |title=The global distribution and trajectory of tidal flats |journal=Nature |date=2019 |volume=565 |issue=7738 |pages=222–225 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0805-8 |pmid=30568300 |s2cid=56481043 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0805-8}}</ref>

==Climate==
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map MDG present.svg|thumb|Madagascar map of Köppen climate classification zones|alt=]]
The climate is [[tropical]] along the coast, [[temperate]] inland, and [[arid]] in the south. The weather is dominated by the southeastern [[trade wind]]s that originate in the Indian Ocean [[anticyclone]], a center of high atmospheric pressure that seasonally changes its position over the ocean. Madagascar has two seasons: a warm, wet season from November to April; and a cooler, dry season from May to October. There is, however, great variation in climate owing to elevation and position relative to dominant winds. Overall, surface water is most abundant along the east coast and in the far north (with the exception of the area around Cap d'Ambre, which has relatively little surface water). Amounts diminish to the west and south, and the driest regions are in the extreme south.

The east coast has a tropical rainforest climate; being most directly [[orographic precipitation|exposed to the trade winds]], it has the highest rainfall, averaging as high as {{convert|4000|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} annually in some places. This region has a hot, humid climate in which [[Tropical disease|tropical fevers]] are endemic. Destructive cyclones occur during the rainy season, coming in principally from the direction of the [[Mascarene Islands]]. Because rain clouds discharge much of their moisture east of the highest elevations on the island, the Central Highlands are drier and, owing to the altitude, also cooler. Thunderstorms are common during the rainy season in the Central Highlands and the eastern coastal lowlands.

Antananarivo receives practically all of its average annual {{convert|1400|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} of rainfall between November and April. The dry season is sunny, although somewhat chilly, especially in the mornings. Although frosts are rare in Antananarivo, they are common at higher elevations. Hail is common in many of the higher areas of the island (including Antananarivo), but there is no snowfall except on the [[Ankaratra]] massif where above {{convert|2400|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} it may occasionally fall and even remain for several days.

The west coast is drier than either the east coast or the Central Highlands because the trade winds [[foehn effect|lose their humidity]] by the time they reach this region. The southwest and the extreme south are semidesert; as little as {{convert|330|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain falls annually at [[Toliara]].

{{Weather box
|location = Antananarivo (1981–2010)
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 33.0
|Feb record high C = 32.0
|Mar record high C = 33.0
|Apr record high C = 31.8
|May record high C = 30.2
|Jun record high C = 32.6
|Jul record high C = 27.0
|Aug record high C = 28.9
|Sep record high C = 32.3
|Oct record high C = 33.1
|Nov record high C = 33.3
|Dec record high C = 32.1

|Jan high C = 26.6
|Feb high C = 26.5
|Mar high C = 26.5
|Apr high C = 25.5
|May high C = 23.7
|Jun high C = 21.2
|Jul high C = 20.6
|Aug high C = 21.7
|Sep high C = 24.2
|Oct high C = 26.0
|Nov high C = 27.0
|Dec high C = 27.2
|year high C = 24.7

|Jan mean C = 20.8
|Feb mean C = 20.8
|Mar mean C = 20.7
|Apr mean C = 19.5
|May mean C = 17.3
|Jun mean C = 15.1
|Jul mean C = 14.3
|Aug mean C = 14.9
|Sep mean C = 16.8
|Oct mean C = 18.7
|Nov mean C = 20.1
|Dec mean C = 20.7
|year mean C = 18.3

|Jan low C = 17.3
|Feb low C = 17.3
|Mar low C = 17.0
|Apr low C = 15.4
|May low C = 13.2
|Jun low C = 10.9
|Jul low C = 9.9
|Aug low C = 10.3
|Sep low C = 11.4
|Oct low C = 13.6
|Nov low C = 15.2
|Dec low C = 16.7
|year low C = 14.0

|Jan record low C = 10.9
|Feb record low C = 11.0
|Mar record low C = 10.0
|Apr record low C = 9.0
|May record low C = 4.0
|Jun record low C = 2.0
|Jul record low C = 2.0
|Aug record low C = 4.4
|Sep record low C = 2.3
|Oct record low C = 6.0
|Nov record low C = 9.3
|Dec record low C = 10.5

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 340
|Feb precipitation mm = 290
|Mar precipitation mm = 191
|Apr precipitation mm = 55
|May precipitation mm = 19
|Jun precipitation mm = 4
|Jul precipitation mm = 8
|Aug precipitation mm = 6
|Sep precipitation mm = 10
|Oct precipitation mm = 68
|Nov precipitation mm = 135
|Dec precipitation mm = 311

|Jan rain days = 19
|Feb rain days = 17
|Mar rain days = 14
|Apr rain days = 7
|May rain days = 5
|Jun rain days = 5
|Jul rain days = 7
|Aug rain days = 6
|Sep rain days = 4
|Oct rain days = 8
|Nov rain days = 11
|Dec rain days = 15

|Jan humidity = 79
|Feb humidity = 80
|Mar humidity = 79
|Apr humidity = 77
|May humidity = 77
|Jun humidity = 77
|Jul humidity = 76
|Aug humidity = 74
|Sep humidity = 70
|Oct humidity = 69
|Nov humidity = 71
|Dec humidity = 77

|Jan sun = 210.5
|Feb sun = 178.0
|Mar sun = 199.1
|Apr sun = 220.5
|May sun = 228.8
|Jun sun = 206.1
|Jul sun = 213.9
|Aug sun = 235.0
|Sep sun = 249.5
|Oct sun = 251.0
|Nov sun = 232.7
|Dec sun = 201.1
|year sun = 2626.2
| source 1 = NOAA<ref name="NOAA">{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MG/67083.TXT
| title = Antananarivo Climate Normals 1961–1990 (Sunhours)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 30 November 2013}}</ref>

| source 2 = ''Pogoda''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate2/67083.htm |title= Antananarivo Climate Normals 1981–2010 (Temperatures, Precipitation, Humidity) |publisher= .pogodaiklimat|access-date=4 May 2016 }}</ref>

|date=May 2016}}

{{Weather box
|location = Toamasina (1961–1990, extremes 1889–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 37.4
|Feb record high C = 38.6
|Mar record high C = 36.7
|Apr record high C = 35.0
|May record high C = 34.0
|Jun record high C = 29.6
|Jul record high C = 31.2
|Aug record high C = 30.2
|Sep record high C = 30.6
|Oct record high C = 33.2
|Nov record high C = 33.0
|Dec record high C = 33.6
|year record high C = 38.6
|Jan high C = 30.1
|Feb high C = 30.3
|Mar high C = 29.5
|Apr high C = 28.8
|May high C = 27.3
|Jun high C = 25.6
|Jul high C = 24.8
|Aug high C = 24.9
|Sep high C = 25.8
|Oct high C = 26.9
|Nov high C = 28.4
|Dec high C = 29.4
|year high C = 27.6
|Jan mean C = 26.0
|Feb mean C = 26.1
|Mar mean C = 25.5
|Apr mean C = 24.6
|May mean C = 22.9
|Jun mean C = 21.1
|Jul mean C = 20.4
|Aug mean C = 20.5
|Sep mean C = 21.3
|Oct mean C = 22.7
|Nov mean C = 24.3
|Dec mean C = 25.5
|year mean C = 23.4
|Jan low C = 22.5
|Feb low C = 22.7
|Mar low C = 22.4
|Apr low C = 21.4
|May low C = 19.5
|Jun low C = 17.8
|Jul low C = 17.1
|Aug low C = 17.0
|Sep low C = 17.3
|Oct low C = 18.7
|Nov low C = 20.4
|Dec low C = 21.9
|year low C = 19.9
|Jan record low C = 18.0
|Feb record low C = 17.5
|Mar record low C = 17.0
|Apr record low C = 15.0
|May record low C = 13.2
|Jun record low C = 11.0
|Jul record low C = 11.8
|Aug record low C = 10.0
|Sep record low C = 11.0
|Oct record low C = 11.0
|Nov record low C = 13.5
|Dec record low C = 16.0
|year record low C = 10.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 410.1
|Feb rain mm = 382.1
|Mar rain mm = 478.4
|Apr rain mm = 322.8
|May rain mm = 228.3
|Jun rain mm = 259.0
|Jul rain mm = 288.6
|Aug rain mm = 218.2
|Sep rain mm = 121.1
|Oct rain mm = 132.6
|Nov rain mm = 169.7
|Dec rain mm = 357.3
|year rain mm = 3368.2
|unit rain days=1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 19
|Feb rain days = 17
|Mar rain days = 21
|Apr rain days = 18
|May rain days = 17
|Jun rain days = 18
|Jul rain days = 22
|Aug rain days = 20
|Sep rain days = 15
|Oct rain days = 13
|Nov rain days = 14
|Dec rain days = 17
|year rain days = 211
|Jan humidity = 83
|Feb humidity = 83
|Mar humidity = 85
|Apr humidity = 84
|May humidity = 85
|Jun humidity = 85
|Jul humidity = 84
|Aug humidity = 85
|Sep humidity = 83
|Oct humidity = 82
|Nov humidity = 83
|Dec humidity = 84
|year humidity = 84
|Jan sun = 224.7
|Feb sun = 198.2
|Mar sun = 191.0
|Apr sun = 196.9
|May sun = 192.1
|Jun sun = 162.5
|Jul sun = 162.8
|Aug sun = 184.6
|Sep sun = 209.7
|Oct sun = 232.7
|Nov sun = 236.0
|Dec sun = 219.2
|year sun = 2410.4
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAAToamasina>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MG/67095.TXT
| title = Tamatave/Toamasina Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = October 19, 2015}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity, 1951–1967),<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_670950_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Toamasina (Tamatave) / Madagaskar
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = April 7, 2017}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web 
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=769
| title = Station Toamasina
| publisher = Meteo Climat 
|language = fr 
| access-date = April 7, 2017}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Toliara (Tulear), Madagascar (1961–1990, extremes 1951–present)
|single line = yes
|metric first = yes
|temperature colour = 
|Jan record high C = 42.3
|Feb record high C = 39.0
|Mar record high C = 39.7
|Apr record high C = 38.5
|May record high C = 37.4
|Jun record high C = 35.7
|Jul record high C = 34.5
|Aug record high C = 37.5
|Sep record high C = 37.5
|Oct record high C = 39.5
|Nov record high C = 37.7
|Dec record high C = 38.7
|year record high C = 42.3
|Jan high C = 32.2
|Feb high C = 32.3
|Mar high C = 32.0
|Apr high C = 30.6
|May high C = 28.6
|Jun high C = 26.9
|Jul high C = 26.8
|Aug high C = 27.7
|Sep high C = 28.5
|Oct high C = 29.3
|Nov high C = 30.3
|Dec high C = 31.3
|year high C = 29.8
|Jan mean C = 27.5
|Feb mean C = 27.5
|Mar mean C = 26.8
|Apr mean C = 25.0
|May mean C = 22.7
|Jun mean C = 20.7
|Jul mean C = 20.3
|Aug mean C = 21.0
|Sep mean C = 22.3
|Oct mean C = 23.9
|Nov mean C = 25.3
|Dec mean C = 26.6
|year mean C = 24.1
|Jan low C = 22.9
|Feb low C = 22.9
|Mar low C = 21.9
|Apr low C = 19.9
|May low C = 16.9
|Jun low C = 14.8
|Jul low C = 14.4
|Aug low C = 14.8
|Sep low C = 16.2
|Oct low C = 18.5
|Nov low C = 20.3
|Dec low C = 22.1
|year low C = 18.8
|Jan record low C = 14.6
|Feb record low C = 15.0
|Mar record low C = 16.8
|Apr record low C = 10.0
|May record low C = 10.2
|Jun record low C = 4.2
|Jul record low C = 8.4
|Aug record low C = 10.0
|Sep record low C = 9.0
|Oct record low C = 11.8
|Nov record low C = 14.0
|Dec record low C = 17.0
|year record low C = 4.2
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 94.7
|Feb rain mm = 88.7
|Mar rain mm = 35.9
|Apr rain mm = 17.7
|May rain mm = 15.8
|Jun rain mm = 14.9
|Jul rain mm = 6.2
|Aug rain mm = 5.6
|Sep rain mm = 7.8
|Oct rain mm = 11.9
|Nov rain mm = 21.7
|Dec rain mm = 97.0
|year rain mm = 417.9
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 6
|Feb rain days = 6
|Mar rain days = 3
|Apr rain days = 2
|May rain days = 2
|Jun rain days = 2
|Jul rain days = 1
|Aug rain days = 1
|Sep rain days = 1
|Oct rain days = 1
|Nov rain days = 2
|Dec rain days = 5
|year rain days = 32
|Jan humidity = 77
|Feb humidity = 77
|Mar humidity = 75
|Apr humidity = 76
|May humidity = 75
|Jun humidity = 74
|Jul humidity = 74
|Aug humidity = 72
|Sep humidity = 74
|Oct humidity = 75
|Nov humidity = 75
|Dec humidity = 77
|year humidity = 75
|Jan sun = 310.7
|Feb sun = 271.9
|Mar sun = 299.9
|Apr sun = 289.4
|May sun = 296.4
|Jun sun = 282.5
|Jul sun = 295.3
|Aug sun = 315.4
|Sep sun = 304.4
|Oct sun = 314.3
|Nov sun = 316.2
|Dec sun = 300.6
|year sun = 3597.0
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA3>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MG/67161.TXT
| title = Tulear/Toliara Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = October 19, 2015}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity, 1951–1980),<ref name = DWD3>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_671610_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Toliary (Tulear) / Madagaskar
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = April 7, 2017}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat3>
{{cite web 
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=772
| title = Station Toliara
| publisher = Meteo Climat 
|language = fr 
| access-date = April 7, 2017}}</ref>
}}

=== Climate change ===
{{Excerpt|Climate change in Madagascar}}

=== Cyclones ===
Madagascar occasionally experiences the impact of [[cyclone]]s. During February 2–4, 1994, Madagascar was struck by [[Cyclone Geralda]]. The cyclone killed seventy people and destroyed enough property to leave approximately 500,000 homeless, including 30,000 in Antananarivo and 80,000 in [[Toamasina]]. The cyclone also significantly damaged the country's infrastructure, most notably coastal roads, railroads, and telecommunications, as well as agriculture. The damage was estimated at US$45 million.

During March 1–18, 2004, Madagascar was impacted by [[Cyclone Gafilo]], the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the South-West Indian Ocean. The National Rescue Council in [[Antananarivo]] reported 237 dead, 181 missing, 879 injured, and 304,000 homeless (174,000 in [[Antalaha]] alone). More than 20,000 homes were destroyed, as well as 413 public buildings and 3,400 schools were damaged, including 1,400 schools completely destroyed. The Cyclone left an estimated damage of US$250 million.

In February 2022, [[Cyclone Batsirai]] killed at least 10 people and caused floods, power outages, and structural damages, mere weeks after [[Cyclone Ana]] had killed 55 and displaced 130,000 people on the island.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rabary |first1=Lovasoa |date=6 February 2022 |title=Cyclone kills at least 10 in Madagascar, destroying homes and cutting power |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/least-three-dead-after-cyclone-batsirai-causes-devastation-southeast-madagascar-2022-02-06/}}</ref>

==Flora and fauna==
{{see also|Fauna of Madagascar|Flora of Madagascar}}
{{unreferencedsection|date=July 2024}}
[[File:Adansonia grandidieri02.jpg|thumb|[[Adansonia grandidieri|Baobabs]] near [[Morondava]]]]
The island of Madagascar has been described as an "alternate world" or a "world apart" because of the uniqueness and rarity of many of its plant and animal species. Their characteristics are believed to reflect the island's origins as a part of [[Gondwanaland]] and its many millions of years of isolation following the breakup of the landmass.

Many of the characteristic African species—large mammals such as the elephant, rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, and antelope and predators such as lions and leopards—do not exist in Madagascar. In addition, the island has been spared the great variety of venomous snakes indigenous to the African continent. Although it is assumed that most life forms on the island had an African (or South American) origin, isolation has allowed old species&mdash;elsewhere extinct&mdash;to survive and new species unique to the island to evolve. Thus, a great number of plant, insect, reptile, and fish species are [[endemism|endemic]] to Madagascar, and all indigenous land mammal species&mdash;66 in all&mdash;are unique to the island.

Madagascar was once covered almost completely by forests, but [[slash and burn]] practices for dry rice cultivation has denuded most of the landscape, especially in the Central Highlands. [[Rain forest]]s are concentrated on the steep hillsides along a slender north–south axis bordering the east coast, from the Tsaratanana Massif in the north to Tolagnaro in the south. Secondary growth, which has replaced the original forest and consists to a large extent of [[Ravenala madagascariensis|traveller's trees]], [[raffia palm]], and [[Adansonia|baobab]]s, is found in many places along the east coast and in the north. The vegetation of the Central Highlands and the west coast is for the most part [[savanna]] or [[steppe]], and coarse prairie grass predominates where erosion has not exposed the orange-red lateritic soil. In the southwest, the vegetation is adapted to desert conditions.

The remaining rain forest contains a great number of unique plant species. The country has some 900 species of [[orchid]]. [[Banana]]s, [[mango]]es, [[coconut]], [[vanilla]], and other tropical plants grow on the coasts, and the [[eucalyptus]] tree, brought from [[Australia]], is widespread today.

Wood and charcoal from the forests are used to meet 80% of domestic fuel needs. As a result, wood has become scarce. In 1990, the [[World Bank]] launched an environmental program that has increased the planting of pine and eucalyptus to satisfy fuel needs.

==Natural resources==

Madagascar has a number of natural resources, including [[Ambatovy mine|nickel]], [[Ambatovy mine|cobalt]], [[graphite]], [[chromite]], [[coal]], [[bauxite]], rare Earth elements, [[salt]], [[quartz]], [[tar sands]], [[semi-precious]] stones and [[mica]]. There are also fishing areas offshore and potential for [[hydropower]]. 
In 2011, it was estimated that 5.96% of the land area was used for [[arable land]] and 1.02% had permanent crops. Twenty-six percent of the land is forested. 
The majority of the population depends on [[subsistence agriculture|subsistence farming]], largely [[rice]] and [[cattle]]. The manufacturing sector is small but growing.

==Environmental issues==
{{main|Environmental issues in Madagascar}}
Madagascar is currently suffering in some areas from soil erosion as a result of [[deforestation]] and [[overgrazing]], [[desertification]], and contamination of surface water with raw sewage and organic waste. Several species of flora and fauna that are unique to the islands are endangered. Regular cyclones cause flooding in low-lying coastal regions.

==Extreme points==
This is a list of the extreme points of Madagascar, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

* Northernmost Point - Cap D'Ambre, [[Antsiranana Province]] at 11°57′00″S 49°15′56″E
* Easternmost Point - Ile Ngontsy, [[Antsiranana Province]] at 15°15′48″S 50°29′36″E
* Easternmost point (mainland) - Cap Est, [[Antsiranana Province]] at 15°15′56″S 50°29′10″E
* Southernmost Point - [[Cape Sainte Marie|Cape Vohimena]] (Cap Sainte Marie), [[Toliara Province]] at 25°36′24″S 45°10′02″E
* Westernmost Point - Nosy Hao, [[Toliara Province]] at 22°05′13″S 43°11′18″E
* Westernmost Point (mainland) - Pointe Mananonoka, [[Toliara Province]] at 22°15′04″S 43°13′13″E
* Geographic center - ''TBA''
* Geographic center (mainland) - [[Analavory, Miarinarivo|Analavory]], [[Antananarivo Province]]

==See also==
*[[List of cities in Madagascar]]
*[[List of rivers of Madagascar]]
*[[Ecoregions of Madagascar]]
*{{osmrelation|447325}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

*{{Country study|article=Madagascar |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/mgtoc.html |author=Peter J. Schraeder}}
{{commons category|position=right|Geography of Madagascar}}

{{Madagascar topics}}
{{Geography of Africa}}
{{Africa topic|Climate of}}

[[Category:Geography of Madagascar| ]]
[[Category:Geography of the Indian Ocean|M]]
[[Category:Continental fragments|Madagascar]]
[[Category:Climate change in Madagascar]]