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Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30,221,532 km² (11,668,545 sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area, and 20.4% of the total land area. With more than 900,000,000 people (as of 2005) in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14% of the world's human population. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. There are 46 countries including Madagascar, and 53 including all the island groups. |
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Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar. Most notable are the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa, three endemic bird families and six endemic baobab species.
At 587,041 kmē (226,657.8 sq mi), Madagascar is the world's 46th-largest country and the fourth largest island. It is slightly larger than France and it also is one of 11 distinct physiographic provinces of the South African Platform physiographic division.
Towards the east, a steep escarpment leads from the central highlands down into a ribbon of rain forest with a narrow coastal further east. The Canal des Pangalanes is a chain of natural and man-made lakes connected by canals that runs parallel to the east coast for some 460 km (about two-thirds of the island). The descent from the central highlands toward the west is more gradual, with remnants of deciduous forest and savanna-like plains (which in the south and southwest, are quite dry and host spiny desert and baobabs). On the west coast are many protected harbours, but silting up is a major problem caused by sediment from the high levels of erosion inland.
Along the crest of this ridge lie the central highlands, a plateau region ranging in altitude from 2,450 to 4,400 ft (750 to 1350m) above sea level. The central highlands are characterised by terraced, rice-growing valleys lying between barren hills. Here, the red laterite soil that covers much of the island has been exposed by erosion, showing clearly why the country is often referred to as the "Red Island".
The Ankaratra Massif is in the central area south of the capital Antananarivo and hosts the highest mountain on the island, Maromokotro, with an altitude of 2,876 m (9,436 ft). The massif also contains the second-highest peak, Tsiafajavona, with an altitude of 2,643 m (8,668 ft). On very rare occasions, this region experiences snow in winter due to its high altitude. Further south is the Andringitra massif which has several peaks over 2400 m (about 8,000 ft) including the third and fourth highest peaks, Pic Boby (8,720 ft, 2,658 m) and Pic Bory (8,626 ft, 2,630 m). Other peaks in the massif include Pic Soaindra (8,594 ft, 2,620 m) and Pic Ivangomena (8,385 ft, 2,556 m). This massif also contains the Andringitra Reserve.
There are two seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April, and a cooler, dry season from May to October. South-eastern trade winds predominate, and the island occasionally experiences cyclones.
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Ambanja flights, Madagascar | Ambatomainty flights, Madagascar | Ambatondrazaka flights, Madagascar | Analalava flights, Madagascar | Andapa flights, Madagascar | Andriamena flights, Madagascar | Ankavandra flights, Madagascar | Ankazoabo flights, Madagascar | Antalaha flights, Madagascar | Antananarivo flights, Madagascar | Antsalova flights, Madagascar | Antsiranana flights, Madagascar | Antsohihy flights, Madagascar | Bealanana flights, Madagascar | Belo flights, Madagascar | Beroroha flights, Madagascar | Besalampy flights, Madagascar | Farafangana flights, Madagascar | Fianarantsoa flights, Madagascar | Fort Dauphin flights, Madagascar | Mahanoro flights, Madagascar | Maintirano flights, Madagascar | Majunga flights, Madagascar | Manakara flights, Madagascar (K) Mananara flights, Madagascar | Mananjary flights, Madagascar | Mandabe flights, Madagascar | Mandritsara flights, Madagascar | Manja flights, Madagascar | Maroantsetra flights, Madagascar | Miandrivazo flights, Madagascar (A) Morafenobe flights, Madagascar | Morombe flights, Madagascar | Morondava flights, Madagascar | Nossi Be flights, Madagascar | Port Berge flights, Madagascar | Sainte Marie flights, Madagascar | Sambava flights, Madagascar | Saravena flights, Madagascar | Soalala flights, Madagascar | Tamatave flights, Madagascar | Tambohorano flights, Madagascar | Tsaratanana flights, Madagascar | Tsiroanomandidy flights, Madagascar | Tulear flights, Madagascar | Vatomandry flights, Madagascar | Vohemar flights, Madagascar | |
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