Country Profile

OFFICIAL NAME

Republic of Madagascar

GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE

About 200 miles off the coast of Africa, across the Mozambique Channel in the south Indian Ocean. Astride the Tropic of Capricorn, between 12 (degrees) and 24 (degrees) latitude south and 43 (degrees) and 50 (degrees) longitude east, Madagascar covers 228,880 square miles.

CLIMATE

Varies from north to south, east to west and from coastal regions to highland; but, to simplify: tropical with two seasons, dry from April to December and rainy from January to March. Average temperature is 70 (degrees) F in the highlands and 85 (degrees) F on the coast.

CAPITAL CITY

Antananarivo, aka Tananarive or "Tana."

TNR Airport, Ivato, is 17 miles from the city.

Population: 1,500,000

POPULATION

Fifteen million. The vast majority is an attractive blend of Malay, Polynesian and African ancestry, with two small minorities of Indian or French origin.

LANGUAGE

Malagasy and French

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Valid passport and visa.

CURRENCY

Malagasy Franc: U.S. $1 = 6,500 FMG (Nov 2001)

ELECTRICITY

220 volts, European plugs for small appliances.