|
|
|
|
|
WILD AND BEAUTIFUL - MADAGASCAR
- Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island with an area of 587,040 sq km.
- Total length from South to North is 1610 km
- The island is situated in the Indian ocean east off the coast of Mozambique
- Approximately 20, 5 million people live on the island.
- Capital: Antananarivo (Tana)
- Language: Malagasy and French (educated)
- The country produces largest party of the world’s vanilla
Madagascar is called the red island, because of great content of iron and aluminum
(lateritt) in the earth, which colors the country red.
History:
Archaeologists believe that the first Malagasy’s came in boats from Indonesia approx.
2000 years ago, and later from the African East. The first touch with the Europeans
erupted in 1500-century, when a Portuguese captain came away from its fleet on its
way to India. But it was France who took the lead. They set up several trade stations
in 1700-century. Madagascar has been French colony and was first independent in
1960. The island has also been an infamous home for pirates up through the ages.
Norway has a long history in Madagascar through the Norwegian Missionaries. It is
debatable, but if not someone else would have been there. Ever since 1866 Norwegians
has served on the island and has, among other things founded educations medical
personnel’s.
People and Culture
The Afro-Asiatic population is divided into approx. 20 different tribes,
and in common they have a strong faith in the spiritual and in particular the power
from the dead, or “Razana”. The missionary, Christians or Muslims, have not been
able to take this tradition away. It is said that there are those who owns island.
Culture in the country is characterized by a number taboos also called “Fady”, which
is determined by “Razana”. This for example, give or tell the rules for what we
will do or not do linked to different days, actions with more. A “Fady” can, for
example, be that all Funerals) by shall be held on Tuesday, if not will some die.
Fady can vary between families or communities.
Geography
A range stretches from the north to the south. Madagascar is currently divided into
six autonomous provinces. Towards the east mountains divide the contry down to the
sea. East coast is a 50 km wide stripe from the central part to the coast and it
consists of dense rainforest. The west side is the dry area. Madagascar’s highest
mountain is 2876 meters high and is located North on the island. Madagascar has
a tropical climate.
Climate
There are two seasons. A warm and rainy season from November to March, and a dry
and cold period from April to October. Cyclones hits east coast in February and
March. The expedition will then be operating in the dry season, and there will be
less water in the river, which is good and bad.
Flora and fauna Madagascar
That is fantastic, because the island was early isolated from the rest of Africa,
and has given the island a unique biological diversity. Madagascar has 5 per cent
of world animal and species, which 80 per cent of fauna and flora is endemic (only
place living)
- Specialty: Lemurs, 30 Species, only found on the island
- 100 Mammals, all endemic, except bats. (Big bats)
- Birds: 250 breeding Species (130 endemic species)
- 8,000 Species of flowering plants, over 1,000 native orchids
- 150 species of frogs, all endemic
- Two thirds of the world’s chameleons
- 200 Species of reptiles, 90% endemic (and no poisonous snakes!)
- Nile crocodile (must have had a long swim)
- 68 types of scorpions, which are poisonous.
|
|
|
|
|
|