Madagascar Overview

One thing I knew about Madagascar and a Misconception

Madagascar hissing cockroaches - If you watch the National Geographic and Discovery Channels you have probably have heard of these insects. My initial thought - "It's one thing to have roaches, but hissing roaches!?"

The Madagascar Movie - there are no penguins in Madagascar and that goes for lions, zebras, hippos, and giraffes. Don't ask me about any penguins.

That's right, no penguins.

That being said, factual information is below.

Research

• CAPITAL CITY – Antananarivo    

  

  Map illustrating unique places and animals

• LARGEST CITY – Antananarivo
• OFFICIAL LANGUAGE(S) – Malagasy (primary), French (secondary)
• AREA (KM²) – 582 800 km²
• POPULATION – 20.1 million
• GDP – US$ $8.6 billion
• CURRENCY – MGA(Ariary)

"There are 138 Volunteers in Madagascar working with their communities on projects in agriculture, education, and health. During their service in Madagascar, Volunteers learn to speak standard Malagasy, as well as Malagasy dialects, including Antaifasy, Antaisaka, Antakarana, Antandroy, Antemoro, Antoanosy, Betsileo, Betsimisaraka, Sakalava, and Thiminhety. More than 1,225 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Madagascar since the program was established in 1993."

History

Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and is considered to be the "eighth continent". Madagascar was settled over 2000 years ago by people of African and Asian descent. 

Economy

90% of the population live on less than $2 per day-one of the poorest countries in the world. 74% of income is spent on food. 

Agriculture is a large portion of Madagascar's economy making up 29% of GDP as of 2011. Madagascar is the world's leading producers of vanilla.

Due to the 2009 coup d'etat, restrictions of foreign aid has contributed to Madagascar's economic problems along with a decline in tourism (ecotourism). 

People and Culture

Madagascar has 18 different ethnic groups. Approximately 61% of the population is under 24 years

of age. Over half of the population is Christian that combines church worship with ancestral veneration and 2% is Muslim.

Climate and Environment

Madagascar is considered to be a biodiversity hotspot with over 74% of its flora and fauna being endemic to the island. Even though is is a biodiversity hotpot, over 80% of it's original forest has been converted to agriculture use due to tavy, slash-and-burn agriculture. 

Climate can vary greatly. It generally has two seasons: hot and rainy from November to April and dry and cooler in May to October. The east coast contains tropical rain forests that are prone to tropical storms and cyclones. The central highlands is the main location of agriculture as it is dryer and cooler. The west coast contains deciduous forests that lose their leaves during the dry months. Finally, the southwest is the driest and some parts can be considered desert.

“The wet season in Madagascar is also the hottest time of the year, with temperatures hitting a daily average maximum of 28º C (82º F) in December with a daily low of 17º C (63º F). July is the coolest month with daily average temperatures ranging between a 21º C (70º F) and 9º C (48º F). The daily temperature range averages around 8 º C (46º F) year-round.” (These are temperatures that I deal with.)

Sources

Madagascar Welcome Book from Peace Corps

http://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/learn/wherepc/africa/madagascar/

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/madagascar/weather-climate-geography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html