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Lake Ravelobe

308 bytes added, 06:32, 20 February 2012
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* ''Terpsiphone mutata'' - [[Madagascar paradise-flycatcher]]
* ''Dendrocygna viduata'' - [[White-faced whistling duck]]<br><br>
 
The lake is sacred to the [[Sakalava]] people. Visitors have the chance to visit a ''doany'', a place where the Sakalava perform their sacred ritual called ''joro''. The joro takes place once a year, usually in July. At the ritual the Sakalava bless the ancestors and afterwards admire the sacred lake.<br><br>
=== Legends about Lake Ravelobe ===
Ravelobe was a Malagasy patriot who participated in World War II. Back home, he asked the French colonists to administrate the cantonment of Ambatoboeny, but his request was denied. He then formed a group of rebells in the ''garafantsy'' ("hill of thorns" - Ankarafantsika area). From there on, Ravelobe and his followers robbed travellers and bypassers.<br><br>
The crocodiles (Nile crocodiles) of Lake Ravelobe are considered sacred. Every year zebus are sacrificed to these crocodiles, which have a specific name: ''mampisento'' - "that is sighing". The story of the mampisento crocodiles dates back to the days of [[King Andriamisondrotramasinarivo]] of the [[Marambitsy]] lineage ([[Sakalava]] ethnic group, originating from Mitsinjo), who out of pride, not wanting the annexation of the [[Merina]] to his territory during the reign of [[Radama I]] (1810-1828), threw his family and himself into the lake. A gatekeeper of the king declined to follow his master into suicide. Shortly after he died, a crocodile appeared at the shore of the lake and spoke strangely in the voice of the gatekeeper and its sigh was for all those who saw it.
Until today the lake is sacred and pork is not allowed in the area, as the Marambitsy were Muslims.<br><br>