Difference between revisions of "Ankarana National Park"
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Ankarana National Park has a total area of 18,225ha and an altitude of 206m. The predominant climate is dry tropical with an annual rainfall below 2,000mm. Most of the rain falls in January. The dry season lasts from April to November. March is the hottest month with a maximum temperature of 36.2°C and June is the coldest with a minimum temperature of 13.5°C. | Ankarana National Park has a total area of 18,225ha and an altitude of 206m. The predominant climate is dry tropical with an annual rainfall below 2,000mm. Most of the rain falls in January. The dry season lasts from April to November. March is the hottest month with a maximum temperature of 36.2°C and June is the coldest with a minimum temperature of 13.5°C. | ||
| − | The topography of Ankarana is characterised by limestone emerging from basaltic | + | The topography of Ankarana is characterised by limestone emerging from a basaltic plain 50m above sea level, forming the ''[[Tsingy]]'' (sharp limestone karst pinnacles). Numerous underground caves and canyons traverse the massif. Four major rivers flow through the reserve: Besaboba eastward, Ankarana from the north, Antenan'Ankarana and Mananjeba from the south. The first three are underground rivers whose specific courses currently remain unknown. |
For visitors of the reserve there is much to discover in the forest, rivers and caves. In 2010 a biological inventory identified: | For visitors of the reserve there is much to discover in the forest, rivers and caves. In 2010 a biological inventory identified: | ||
| − | * 50 shellfish species and a large number of snails | + | * 50 shellfish species and a large number of Tsingy snails |
* 14 bat species, half the species of bats in Madagascar | * 14 bat species, half the species of bats in Madagascar | ||
* 60 species of reptiles and amphibians | * 60 species of reptiles and amphibians | ||
Revision as of 12:45, 13 December 2011
The Ankarana National Park is located in the Diana region in the northern part of Madagascar. The park lies 108 kilometres south of Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) and about 20 kilometres north of Ambilobe. The four rural disctricts of Marivorahona, Anivorano, Ambondrona and Antsaravibe surround the park. From Antsiranana it takes between two and three hours by taxi-brousse to reach the main entrance on the east-side at Mahamasina on the RN6. Most of the people living in the region are Antakarana.
Ankarana National Park has a total area of 18,225ha and an altitude of 206m. The predominant climate is dry tropical with an annual rainfall below 2,000mm. Most of the rain falls in January. The dry season lasts from April to November. March is the hottest month with a maximum temperature of 36.2°C and June is the coldest with a minimum temperature of 13.5°C.
The topography of Ankarana is characterised by limestone emerging from a basaltic plain 50m above sea level, forming the Tsingy (sharp limestone karst pinnacles). Numerous underground caves and canyons traverse the massif. Four major rivers flow through the reserve: Besaboba eastward, Ankarana from the north, Antenan'Ankarana and Mananjeba from the south. The first three are underground rivers whose specific courses currently remain unknown.
For visitors of the reserve there is much to discover in the forest, rivers and caves. In 2010 a biological inventory identified:
- 50 shellfish species and a large number of Tsingy snails
- 14 bat species, half the species of bats in Madagascar
- 60 species of reptiles and amphibians
- 11 species of lemurs
- 96 bird species
Invertebrates
Ankarana is home to at least 50 shellfish species, including 10 water species. Among the most interesting species is the great land snail Tropidophora. Several species of Collembola (springtail) and amphipods are endemic to the caves and streams of Ankarana.
