Lie on the sandy beaches, swim in the warm ocean, stroll in the vast tropical forests, look at the strange birds and beasts. What else you need into a single, and therefore less valuable vacation? All this can be found in one unusual and most beautiful place on earth. This Madagascar.
The fourth largest island in the Indian Ocean covers an area of ??587,000 square kilometers. The capital city of Madagascar, with an exotic name to our ears - Antananarivo. The island can be divided into five regions. East Coast, mountain Tsaratanana, central highlands, the west coast and south-west.
East Coast. A narrow strip of a width of one kilometer. Coast abruptly in the Highlands. Excellent location for exploring the numerous mountains, cliffs and valleys. But better think twice if you are thinking is swimming! In coastal waters inhabited by many sharks, beaches are considered very dangerous to humans
The Central Highlands. The height of plateau varies from 800 to 1800 meters. Landscape is impressive, varied terrain is changing beyond recognition. Here there is a volcanic mountain plateau Andzhafi, mountain range and the array Ankaratra Ivakuani. Only, perhaps, minus the area of ??strong seismic activity.
West Coast. "The place of pirates" have called this place in the seventeenth-eighteenth centuries. All this is because due to the abundance of harbors and lagoons are often stopped and were based pirates. Besides, now located on the shores of two large oil fields: Tsimiruru and Bemulanga.
South-west. It consists of two parts Mahafaly Plateau and the adjacent desert.
"Great Red Island" is a current call Madagascar. Because throughout the island are the red soil.
Madagascar broke away from all the continents of about 60-70 million years ago. Because of this the island has preserved many plant and animal species became extinct in all other places of the earth. Only it is worth to visit the island! In Madagascar, an organized set of nature reserves and protected areas, which are certainly worth a visit.
And of course if you visit the island simply can not help but notice the magnificent tropical rain forests. Once upon a forest covered almost the entire island, through which he could not get people. But for the past forty years the number of trees has been greatly reduced. This contributes to destructive human activities, the increase in population and pollution. Wood is a natural grand laboratory. Here you can find unique plants grow only here. Only in Madagascar grow six species of baobab, which is five more than in the remaining world. The trees are adapted to natural conditions. In the south, rains only four months. Baobab for this time gaining moisture for the entire year in advance. They grow thousands of years, and bear fruit every year. More than 10,000 plants grow only in Madagascar. These forests, plants and animals in need of protection, or they may disappear entirely.
In the south of Madagascar to be Reserve Berent. A feature of this reserve is that there be the biggest colony of fruit bats. They live in the crown of a giant tamarind trees. There also are numerous colony of cats lemurs.
In the north of the island is National Park d'Am6r Montagne. Here are a unique species of orchids, as well as cutting. The problem with this park is that the soil here is very much subject to erosion and strongly leached.
Madagascan currency - ariari. The economy of the country is not as developed as it should be. Main industries: agriculture, fishing and cultivation of spices. The main products for export be spices, coffee, rice, vanilla and cocoa.
Ethnic group population formiroyuschaya Madagascar - Malagasy. The population is made into two groups - the mountaineers and inhabitants of the coast. But whatever the people of Madagascar are very friendly and hospitable, working mainly at tourists. The main language - Malagasy, but in the broad course of just English. The official religion - Christianity, as professed Orthodoxy and Catholicism, as well as ancestor worship. Less commonly, other religions in Madagascar Muslims.
Cuisine of Madagascar consists mainly of rice and corn dishes. Strongly influenced by French cuisine, China and India.
Culture, instruments, songs and performance style differ markedly depending on the region. A traditional musical instrument valiha. Stringed instrument made from bamboo. In Madagascar, the music is not only entertaining, spiritual, and educational and even political role.
