Madagascar: Background & Geography

Introduction Madagascar
Background:
 Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner.
Geography Madagascar
Location:
 Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:
 Africa
Area:
 total: 587,040 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
Area - comparative:
 slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
 0 km
Coastline:
 4,828 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:
 tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
 narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:
 graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use:
 arable land: 4.99%
permanent crops: 1.03%
other: 93.98% (2000 est.)
Irrigated land:
 10,900 sq km (2000 est.)
Natural hazards:
 periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
Environment - current issues:
 soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
Environment - international agreements:
 party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
 world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

See Also: