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 Madagascar |
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There
is so much to see in Madagascar! There is so much spectacular
scenery of enormous variety, from mountains, rainforests, fantastic
beaches and coral reefs to desert. There is unique vegetation
and wildlife, seen nowhere else in the world.
Antananarivo is the national capital
of Madagascar. Situated on a high hill, it is very old. It was
founded in the 17th century. It stands on a high hill. There are
many steps leading up to a high ridge 1431 metres above sea level,
where the towers and palaces of the Imerina kings who ruled from
1794 to the end of the 19th century. Below that are the banks
and government buildings, and lower still there are businesses.
There are cathedrals, scientific institutes, library and observatory.
There are great markets in the city. The national airport, Ivato,
is just 17 km away. The railway goes from here to Toamasina, the
main seaport, and to Antsirabe in the south and Lake Alaotra in
the north.
Antsirabe is a town where there are thermal spas and volcanic crater lakes. One of these is Lac (French for 'lake') Tritriva. There are lapidaries, or places where stones are cut in Antsirabe.
Antsiranana
is an old sea port, located on a beautiful bay. Not far away is
Ankarana Reserve, where there are sacred caves with limestone
formations and underground rivers. Montagne d'Ambre National Park
is also not far, where people can hike through the tropical forest
on the lookout for birds and lemurs, and visit ancient volcanic
crater lakes.Permits are needed to visit the Reserve and the National
Park.
When Madagascar
was a French colony, a canal was
built connecting lakes and rivers along the east coast. Called
Canal Des Pangalanes, it is still a means of travel for local
villagers. Wonderful vegetation is visible along the banks of
the canal.
Madagascar is well suited to eco-tourism, which is the kind of tourism where people go into the wild to see plants and animals in their natural state.
One way of travel is by river, such as canoeing down the Tsiribihina River, seeing wild places along the way.
There are many national parks and nature reserves to visit in Madagascar One of these is Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (formerly Perinet), which is a beautiful rainforest where it is possible to see the Indris lemur, as well as birds and orchids. There is Berenty Reserve, and Mantadia National Park, where Sifaka lemurs can be seen. Nosy Be (means big island) is an island where the last remaining area of original habitat, evergreen rainforest and wet deciduous forest, can be seen.
There
are other small islands where wildlife such as Aye-ayes and chameleons
can be seen.
Click on these sites to read about schedules for actual special tours in Madagascar, for seeing the butterflies, birds or animals that are special and unique to the island.
http://www.madagascar-travel.net/wildlifetours.html
http://www.madagascar-travel.net/birding.html
http://www.madagascar-travel.net/butterflies.html
Acknowledge
this source in your bibliography like this:
Madagascar
(2004).
[Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
Updated January 2004