Isalo

Province: Toliary (Tul�ar)

Area: 81,540

Protected area status: National park

Year established:

General location: 22�22 and 22�40 southern latitude / 45�11 and 45�23 longitude

Location and Access: 683 km southwest of Antananarivo, 279 km southwest Fianarantsoa, 243 km northeast of Toliara.

Climate: Dry tropical forest and savanna

Average temperature: 17-25�C

Elevation: 820 to 1240 m

Precipitation: 85 cm

Description: Isalo's landscape consists of eroded ruiniform sandstone formations dating to the Jurassic period, deep canyons with riparian forests, palm-lined oases, fire-resistant tapia forests, and open grasslands.

FAUNA
Birds: 82
Reptiles: 33
Frogs: 15
Mammals: 14

Lemur species 14:

FLORA:
Isalo is known for its pachypodes (Pachypodium ), aloe and euphorbiums.

The following vegetation zones are found in the park:

Riparian forest found along rivers in the canyons of Isalo

Scattered sclerophyle forest made up of fire-resistant Tapia (Uapaca bojeri) and Heza (Astropeia micraster)

Rupicolous vegetation found on rocky surfaces and consisting of Pachypodiums (Pachypodium geayi, Pachypodium willlamarai, Pachypodium rosulatum, Pachypodium horombese, and Pachypodium densiflorum); Aloes (Aloe acutissima, Aloe isalensis and Aloe detoideodonta); and a species of Kalanchoes

Dry forest on alluvial deposits.
Families: 99
Species: 340

Dominant ethnic group(s): Bara

Official web page

Additional notes: 238 of the plant species in Isalo are endemic

Journal:
Part I
Part II

Video:
Video from Isalo

PHOTOS

Rice paddies near Canyon des Makis and Canyon des Rats [madagascar_7161]

Isalo sunset [madagascar_7043]

Verreaux's sifaka in Isalo [madagascar_7191]

Oustalet's chameleon walking across sand near Isalo [madagascar_7342]

Oustalet's chameleon walking across sand near Isalo [madagascar_7347]

Furcifer oustaleti chameleon (light brown)

Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) [madagascar_1545]

Flatid leaf bugs (Phromnia rosea)

Isalo sunset [madagascar_7042]

Oustalet's chameleon in a Plumeria tree [madagascar_7357]

Rosy Periwinkle

Green-blue swallow-tail butterfly