Madagascar is still class as an island, a very large island. But beyond its size, it contains an unusual diversity compares to similar land size.
Just returned from a trip with American colleagues in Northern Madagascar and during a discussion, they asked me if I had to promote Madagascar, what would I say. So I just told them that Madagascar is unique in its size, natural diversity, its rate of endemism, the diversity of its population, its cosmopolitan culture and many other points more unique as each other.
Madagascar has more than 5.000 kilometers of coastline and parts of the island are still untouched by human settlement, due to the remoteness or simply due to the difficulty of access. It is the fourth largest island in the world after Iceland, Borneo and New Guinea. Some will say the opposite but if you have had the opportunity to travel and discover the Great South Land, you realized that finally, Madagascar is very large, in two weeks, we just done a small part. Many people are amused himself to go around the island, certainly, difficult, but they did more or less 1 month journey and drive please. Certain part of the island is still not accessible by road, So thetravel itself is simply unfeasible if not confined only travel by motor vehicle. If not, walk is done. Recently, a small family of French origin was the feat of making the island tour with a zebu cart, they did it. This was very vocal on networks and especially on TV documentaries.
Almost all landscapes gathered on the island except the snowy lands and great heights above 3.000 meters. The highest mountains of Madagascar brush against 2.900 meters, if not, between the sea and these altitudes, you will find all. Mangroves, estuaries, salar, alluvial plains, uplands, steppes, mountains, lacs, granite mountain chains, sandstone or limestone, dry forest, rainforest; include virtually all photographic scenes.
And if we talk about natural diversity, then, we lack time and ink to talk. Madagascar contains an endemicity(1) almost 80% for the whole island. Near 8 species 10 only exists on the island. Whether in fauna or flora, this number is the same.
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Ethnicity and diversity
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In terms of ethnicity or cultural diversity, it is quite new because Madagascar is a newly populated island. it has just near 2.000 year history if we refer to the latest scientific research. The Malagasy people come from many origins: Indonesia, Africa, L'Inde, China and even Europe. Madagascar shares a fairly common culture among its ethnic population but each remains unique in cultural practices and especially the lifestyle.
Madagascar is literally a bridge between Asia and Africa because there are a lot of similarity between these two lands of origins and the great Island. Much remains to be discovered since the island was opened to tourism only recently and is still a destination for lovers of pure nature and cultural disorientation.
