Madagascar (Asian Samrajye)

## Madagascar

(*Unofficial:* Malagasy)

* Flag
* FlagMap
* Oultine Border

*Madagascar* (Malagasy: Madagasikara; French: Madagascar), now unofficially known as *Malagasy* (Malagasy: Malagsy; French: Malgache), is a sub-saharan island country located just near the coast off Mozambique. In TSIGPIGS, they're both male in the mapping and object style, and compete in the team of Lower Saharan Africa. They were selected as a single candidate/contestant, and were not forced to join a union during "lower cast mandate for MS". However, in TSIGPIGS 2, the Asian Samrajye unexpectedly launched a (naval) invasion on Madagascar, and got annexed by the union. Asian Samrajye proposed a new name for Madagascar, Malagasy, but was later rejected. Currently they're still known as "Madagascar", but calling them "Malagasy" is controversial, debatable, and unofficial.

## Geography

Madagascar is an island nation (and the 4th largest island in the world), just off the coast of lower Sub-Saharan African (or South-East African) nation of Mozambique. It has a smashed coast between the Mozambique channel to the West and the Indian Ocean to the East.

### Political Geography

The country is divided into 22 regions, with the capital Antananarivo, sometimes called "Tana" for short, which is loacted in the *Analamanga* region near the center of the country.

After the capital the largest cities are Toamasina in the Indian coast, and *Antsirabe*, which is relatively in Madagascar's geographical center rather than Antananarivo itself.

Otherwise, with a coastline of over 3000 miles (4826 km), they're loaded with ports and harbors for shipping. The largest one, of course, being Tomasina, where most of the imports come in from the East. It also transports about 75% of their imports and exports.

The country owns dozens of smaller islands and islets around the coast, mostly on the west side. Places like *Nosy Be*, the largest and busiest resort in the country. Otherwise, they still do have a dispute with France over islands like Banc du Geyser, Glorioso Islands, Bassas de India, Europa Island, and Juan de Nova. All these island though, are currently administered by France.

#### Landmarks

The topmost notable sites of interests might include places like:

* St. Marie Pirate Cemetry
* Ambohimanga Gate
* Monument aux Morts
* The Croc Farm
* Rova Antananarivo
* Andafiavaratra Palace
* Fort Manda
* Ansirabe Cathedral
* Widsor Castle
* Indpendence Avenue
* Botanical Gardens of Tsimbazaza
* Ifaty Village Whale-Watching
* Savika Bull Fighting
* Ilakaka Gem Market

### Physical Geography

Madagascar is made up 4 main landscape zones; the Wetter East coast, the drier Savanna West Coast, the Arid South-West Coast, and the Central Highlands known as the Tsaratanana Massif, where we can find the tallest peak *Maromoktro* further up North, where it can snow sometimes. These mountains also provide the source of all major rivers including the longest one, the *Mangoky* River. However, the *Ikopa* river is probably the most import one as it flows through the capital of Antananarivo. Not too far off Ikopa, we can find the lake of *Alaotra*, the largest lake in the country.

#### Flora and Fauna

Due to its geographic isolation, somehwere around 80-90% of the flora and fauna can only be found here and nowhere else. It's not only that, but even though Madagascar is only the 48th largest country in land area, it makes up about 5% of the world's entire known biodiversity. Some people have literally gone too far that they name it the smaller 8th continent. **Various fauna of the country include:**

* Tenrec (spiky rodents)
* Madagascar Owl (owl with ears)
* Hissing Cockroaches
* Red (Tomato) Frog
* Leaf Geckos
* Ayeaye (crack-head monkeys with one long finger)
* Zebu Cattle (known for their fatty shoulder humps)

Apart from that, the fauna of Madagascar is never complete without mentioning the most iconic national animal, endemic to the island, lemurs. It comes in over 100 different species

#### Geographic Landmarks

On top of the iconic fauna, Madagascar's land in itself is pocketed with outstanding wonders, like:

* Tsingy de Remahara Stone Forest (made out of needle-shaped eroded limestone cliffs)
* Avenue of the Baobabs (with incredibly thick trees only found there)

#### Mineralogy

Minerals and sapphires are also abundant and mined here in Madagascar.

## History

The Malay people first arrived at the island by routing through the Indian ocean. They farmed, and encountered magnificient megafauna (big animals). That, unfortunately, were hunted to extinction. Later, around the year 1000, mainland africans began migrating to island via routing the Mozambique channel. Years passed, and pastoralism and agriculture provided the people's sustenance, and trade began with seafaring outsiders such as the Arabs, and later on the Portuguese. Meanwhile, the Malagasy had separated into different tribes (*refer the image on top*), ruled over by chieftains. Swishing ahead, we find the island increasingly eyed up by the French, and also frequented by pirates, like William Kidd, Thomas Tew, who was killed by a cannonball. The *Mirena* people of central Madagascar began strengthening from the late 18th CE. Under king Andrianam-Poinimerina (1745-1810), who set out and conquered lands from rival tribes. Upon his death in 1810, he was succeeded by his son Radama I (r. 1810-28), who inherited his father's thirst for conquest, and captured more lands; eventually bring two-thirds of the island under Mirena rule. Realizing his ambitions, Radama was aided by the British, who allied with him to keep the French away. Radama modernized his forces by adopting European military, technology, and tactics. British influence also persuaded him to put an end to the "Slave Trade" in the region to spread Christianity, education, and literacy among the people. Upon his death from alcoholism (age: 35), he was succeeded by his wife, Ranavalona I (1826-61), a rigid traditionalist, who was far less-welcoming of outside influence in her homeland. She outlawed Christianity, implemented forced labor for various building schemes and expanded her domains. Her strict decrees and isolationistic policies were annulled by her son, Radama II (r. 1861-63), who reopened the kingdom to western ways. Angered over the absolutism of the monarch, Radama was overthrown by his prime minister Rainivoninahitriniony (1824-68). A system of power-sharing between the crown and the PM was introduced with the PM Rainilaiarivony (1828-96), which was quite literal in his case, as he was married to 3 queens in a row. He further modernized the state, built the Andafiavaratra Palace, and proved an able diplomat. However, political chess isn't effective when the other person doesn't care about the rulers, which was France here. They had been eyeballing the island for a long time, and decided to annex it. They (officially) did it via winning the 2 wars of conquest of Franco-Hova Wars (1883-95).

After crushing the Menalamba Rebellion (1896-7), the French set about up by "Frenching" up the place, promoting their language in education. They also built a railway and ended the practice of slavery on the island. Now, during World War II, France officially got annexed by the Nazis, and its Madagascar colony and dependencies now bowed to the French puppet nation of a Vichy regime, which collaborated with the Germans. The British didn't want the enemy, namely Germany's ally Japanese Empire/Imperial Japan using Madagascar as a base to attack their fleets in the Indian Ocean; and went out to capture it, which they ironically did after winning the Battle of Madagascar (May-Nov 1942). Now, the war's tarnished France's reputation, and the people of Madagascar rose up against them in the Malagasy Uprising (1947-49). The revolt was brutally quashed by the French and many 1000s of Malagasies were killed in the process; villages burned, prisoners tortured, all sorts of horrors. By the 1950s, it was clear to France that things have had to change, and that colonialism was on the way out. Madagascar gained full indpendence in 1960, but everything didn't magically get better, as the 1st president (Philibert tsiranana was kicked out for being too pro-French, the next leader, Gabriel Ramanantsoa (1906-79), was also kicked out. Following him was Richard Ratsimandrava (1931-75), who was tragically shot dead in less than a week. In 1975, socialist Didier Ratsiraka (1936-2021) took power, but his system was not successful, and the country ran out of money, and things got pretty bad. In 2002, the country received a more effective leader, Marc Ravalomanana, who oversaw multiple improvements and reforms. But, the country still immense wealth inequality, and many lives were also untouched by the amendments in other spheres. After furious protests (like the 2009 Malagasy Political Crisis), he resigned. Madagascar today ranks low in the HDI, meaning things are not great for many of its people.

## Transportation

### Via Land

The roadways in Madagascar is quite good, as the 6th, 4th, and 7th highways connect the country from its northern tip to its South. However, ironically, only about 10% of their roadways are paved, and many are affected by rains and cyclones. It can take about 6 hours just to drive 60 miles, simply because of how the roads work.

Side-by-side, the country has only 2 main railways: one mostly for cargo shipping between Toamasina to Antananarivo, and the southern route, *Fianarantsoa*-*Manakara* line, which carries passengers between the 2 towns, that're not accessible by road.

### Via Air

Although the country has about 70 domestic airports and air strips (mostly for transporting supplies to the outskirt villages), the largest and only international airport is Ivato International, situated in Anatananarivo.

## Trvia

* The Ikopa (or *Betsiboka*) river is known for its distinct red color, caused by the river sediments.
* Madagascar is also the largest producer of vanilla in the world, providing around 60-75% of the world's supply.
* Malagasies are known to have significant amount of Austronesian DNA from South-East Asia (SEA).
	+ Their language, Malagasy, also originates from SEA, most closely related to Ma'anyan, spoken in parts of the Borneo island.