Geography of Madagascar
Excerpted from the CIA World Factbook
| Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique | |
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Geographic coordinates:
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20 00 S, 47 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 587,040 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km land: 581,540 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Arizona |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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4,828 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath exclusive economic zone: 200 NM contiguous zone: 24 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south |
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Terrain:
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narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m |
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Natural resources:
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graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 4.99%
permanent crops: 1.03% other: 93.98% (2000 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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10,900 sq km (2000 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation |
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel |
More Background on Madagascar:
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