Ms jones madagascar alernate cornelius

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Cornelius Gyamfi(Alternate ..broke my flash drive)

• Madagascar used to be known as the Malagasy republic

• An island Southeast of Africa in the Indian Ocean

• Home to 5% of the animal species• Used to be a French colony but gained

independence in June 26, 1960

• An island in the Indian Ocean, across from Mozambique

• Fourth largest island in the world

• There is a steep escarpment (idk) between the plateau and low-lying coastal areas

• Known as the “Red Island” because of red laterite soil that is being exposed by erosion

• The highest mountain on the island is Maromokotro, at 9,436 ft, which is about 1/3 that of Mt. Everest.

• Extensive deforestation and slash-and-burn practices have caused erosion (on right)

• In the background: the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, which protects many animals and mangrove forests in the area.

IT looks like Arizona

Flag

• The Madagascar flag was officially adopted on October 14, 1958.  Red, white and green are the original colors of the ancient Kingdom of Madagascar, and green is reflective of the country's former peasant class (the Hova). 

Currency

• The Madagascan Currency is known as the Malagasy Ariary .

• The currency was introduced in 2005 to replace the Malagasy Franc which had been in use since the French colonial period

•  One American Dollar is equivalent to 2,155 Ariary

• The Southeastern wind contributes a large role in the climate of Madagascar

• Madagascar has two distinct seasons; a hot wet season and a cool dry season.

• The climate tends to vary with the elevation and position toward the Southeastern wind.

• East has heaviest rainfall (3.5 meters). This region is known for hot humid climate.

• Central highlands are drier due to rain shadow effect

• Lightning tends to be a serious fire hazard in the central highlands were lightning storms are common

• Vanilla has been historically important in Madagascar’s economy. When Coca-Cola switched to a different recipe using less vanilla, Madagascar’s economy fell drastically. Fortunately, Coke switched back to the original recipe and the economy returned to its normal state

• Madagascar is also known for being the world’s large cinnamon market

• The main part of Madagascar’s economy consists of agriculture, fishing, and forestry ( 70% of export earnings).

• Industrial economy consists of textile manufacturing, and processing of agricultural products.

• Tourism is also a large part of the economy.

Agriculture

Industry

Service

Agriculture

Industry

Service

• 1997-2000 period of economic growth• In 2001-2004, a dispute over presidential

elections caused the GDP to drop 12.7%• Malagasy Ariary’s value dropped

significantly• 24% inflation• Stricter monetary enforcement helped the

growth development return to normal• Poverty levels are still fairly high

• The Malagasy are the majority of the people is Madagascar

• There are two subgroups• Those near the higher lands are known as

the Merina and the Betsileo• Those near the coast are the Tanosy and

the Temoro

• Some other ethnic groups include:• Antesaka• Betsimisaraka• Mahafaly• Sakalava• Takarana• Tsimihety• Bara• Tanala• Mikea• Sihanaka

• Official languages: Malagasy and French • Malagasy is spoken throughout the entire

island • French is only spoken between the people

who are educated• English is rarely spoken throughout the

country• The government is introducing a program

that will have the schools teach English to the children

• In 1958, the constitution noted that French and Malagasy were the official languages

• No official languages were listed in the constitution of 1992

• Malagasy is acknowledged as the “national language”• However, there are still arguments that both French and

Malagasy are official

• In the Constitution of 2007, Malagasy was still the national language, but French and English considered to the official languages

• Considered to be amultiparty republic

• They have a president, a parliament , a prime ministry, and a cabinet

• The president serves a five-year term and can be re-elected twice

• The National Assembly consists of 160 people

Coat of Arms

• The senate consists of 90 senators• 60 are elected by the people and 30 are

elected by the president • They all serve 6-year terms • President appoints the Prime Minister• President holds the most power

• Southwest and South have desert climate.• Only about 30cm of rain falls in the south• Surface water is most abundant in the east• Madagascar has a serious cyclone season.• The last serious cyclone was in 1994 leaving 70

human casualties.• Caused about 45 million dollars worth of

damage

• A little less than half of the people in Madagascar practice tribal religions which emphasize the living and the dead.

• Around 45% are Christian, either Catholic or Protestant.

• The remaining people (around 10%) are Muslim.

• Major imports include: petroleum, consumer goods, food

• Import partners: (see chart)• $881 million Import Partners

France50%

Hong Kong19%

Japan19%

China6%

Singapore6%

• Major exports include: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts and livestock products

• Export partners: (see chart)• $600 million

Export Partners

France57%

US13%

Germany12%

Japan9%

UK9%

• On the margin of mainstream African foreign relations

• Welcomes relations with all countries• Strong links with United States,

Europe, Japan, India, and China• Reopened embassy in London in 2004

after 30 years of it being closed

• Many natural resources are found in Madagascar, including:

• Minerals: mica, quartz, graphite, chromite, semiprecious stones

• Coal, salt, and fish• Water (hydropower)

• September 23, 2007 - Parliament elections, Tiako I Madagasikara party won 105 of the seats.

• October 19 - Conflict over a new mining project in Southern Madagascar that is affecting the health of people in the area

• June 27 - 6 national parks found to be so unique that they were added to the World Heritage List

Bibliography

• http://photos.wildmadagascar.org/images/pictures/madagascar_2036.shtml

• http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107743.html