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The country is divided into six provinces, each named after its capital: Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toliara, and Toamasina also known as Tamatave.
The continent separated from Africa 165 million years ago, and since then its flora and fauna have evolved according to its own fantasy, like nowhere else in the world: Lemurs are known worldwide, but the red island (on account of its vividly coloured soil) is home to several endemic species of chameleons, fossas, frogs, birds, snakes, jumping rats, baobabs, carnivorous plants, orchids and many more strange "living beings"! With the lemurs, 80% of its flora, 40% of its birds, 98% of its reptiles being endemic, Madagascar is a naturalist's promised land! The same is true for the Malagasy people, about 20 million: A unique blend of African and Asian, whose culture resembles no other worldwide. The population is divided in 18 [[Ethnic Groups|ethnic groups]]. The nomad [[Vezo]] fisherman swears only by the sea, the zebu is everything to the [[Bara]] of the desertic south, while land is the greatest wealth for the [[Betsileo]] of the Malagasy "altiplano". The relative isolation of the island due to geography and recent history, kept the traditional way of living, rites and the [[Tromba|ancestral beliefs]], very lively and genuine. For the traveller avid to find something different, a dream! Madagascar has it all: Deserted beaches, tropical forests, mountains, spiny forests, rice-terraced highlands.<br><br>
'''Madagascar in Numbers'''<br>
* [http://www.madagascar-tribune.com Madagascar Tribune]
* [http://www.midi-madagasikara.mg Midi Madagasikara]
'''Nature'''<br>
* [[Birds of Madagascar]]
* [[Lemurs of Madagascar]]
* [[Flowers and Trees]]
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[[Image:Belle_Rose_Beach_Hotel_147.jpg|link=Belle_Rose_Beach_Hotel|left|150px]]
'''[[Belle Rose Beach Hotel]]'''<br>
Built almost entirely in wood and in the style of a large villa, the Belle Rose Beach Hotel is a perfect place to enjoy the sights and sounds of the ocean while visiting the picturesque town of Antalaha.
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[[Image:Marojejy_National_Park_564.jpg|link=Trekking_to_the_Summit_of_Marojejy|left|150px]]
'''[[Trekking to the Summit of Marojejy]]'''<br>
The trail to the summit of Marojejy offers visiting tourists, lemur and bird watchers or anyone who simply plans to escape into the wild to experience the sights and sounds of the forest on a demanding yet rewarding trekking adventure.
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[[Image:Florenilla_062.jpg|link=Florenilla|left|150px]]
'''[[Florenilla|Natural vanilla products from Madagascar]]'''<br>Florenilla is a producer of vanilla and other natural products mixed with vanilla, all of which are cultivated according Malagasy traditions and and prepared without the use of artificial fertilisers or conservation methods.<br clear="all"><br>
[[Image:Sambava_to_Andapa_by_bike_206.jpg|link=Sambava_to_Andapa_by_bike|left|150px]]
'''[[Sambava to Andapa by bike]]'''<br>
The incredibly scenic bike route from Sambava to Andapa can be a challenging one, not because of the road condition or necessarily the 110-kilometre distance, but because of the gradually increasing intensity and regularity of uphills, especially along the final 20 kilometres.<br clear="all"><br> <!--[[Image:Prulab_047.jpg|link=Prulab|left|150px]]
'''[[Prulab|Vanilla quality analysis]]'''<br>
Madagascar is the largest producer of natural vanilla and [[Sambava]] is its marketplace of the world where [[Prulab]] offers local farmers, producers and exporters as well as importers of [[Madagascar Vanilla]] in other countries the scientific analysis of their products to better determine the quality and ultimately the price of their seasonal spice.<br clear="all"><br> -->
[[Image:Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_007.jpg|link=Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike|left|150px]]
'''[[Vohemar to Sambava by bike]]'''<br>
