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fiogf49gjkf0d MADAGASCAR, IS SITUATED OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF AFRICA,
COVERING AN AREA OF 587,041SQ KM. IT IS BORDERED TO THE
EAST BY THE MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL AND TO THE SOUTH, EAST AND
NORTH BY THE INDIAN OCEAN. MADAGASCAR MAY BE BROKEN UP INTO
THREE REGIONS. ALL OF THESE REGIONS RUN PARALLEL: THE
CENTRAL PLATEAU, THE PLATEAUS AND PLAINS IN THE WEST AND
THE NARROW COASTAL STRIPS.
THE CENTRAL PLATEAU IS LOCATED BETWEEN 800 AND 1400M ABOVE
SEA LEVEL. IT RISES FROM THE EASTERN COAST AND SLOPES
GRADUALLY TO THE WIDER PLATEAUS OF THE WESTERN COAST. THE
THREE MAJOR MASSIFS OF THE CENTRAL PLATEAU ARE THE
ANKARATA, THE ANDRINGTRA AND THE TSARATANANA. THE
TSARATANANA IS A VOLCANIC PEAK AND IS THE HIGHEST ON THE
ISLAND AT 2876M.
THE PLATEAU SLOPING EASTWARD IS DRAINED BY SHORT, CASCADING
RIVERS, SUCH AS THE, MANDRARE AND THE MANANARA. TO THE WEST
THE RIVERS TEND TO BE WIDER AND LONGER, FOR EXAMPLE THE
MANGOKY AND THE ONILAHY.
THE EASTERN SHORELINE TENDS TO BE STRAIGHT, STRETCHING OUT
BEHIND IT'S BEAUTIFUL CORAL BEACHES AND LAGOONS. THE
WESTERN COAST SLOPES DOWNWARDS TO THE MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL
AND PRODUCES A RANGE OF HILLS. HERE THE COASTLINE IS ALSO
STRAIGHT, BUT BORDERED TO THE WEST BY SAND DUNES AND TO THE
EAST BY VOLCANIC ISLANDS AND CORAL REEFS.
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