Madagascar, Island nation in Eastern Africa.
Madagascar is an island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa with rainforests along the eastern shore, a central highland plateau, and arid zones in the southwest. The territory covers several climate zones with mountain ranges of volcanic origin and a coastline stretching more than 3000 miles.
Indonesian seafarers arrived on the island around 350 BCE, followed by East African migrants who settled along the coasts. The Merina Kingdom formed in 1540 and expanded across much of the territory until French colonial rule began in 1896 and ended with independence in 1960.
Malagasy communities celebrate Famadihana, a ceremony where families rewrap ancestral remains in fresh silk shrouds while sharing food and music. This ritual connects living relatives to their forebears and usually takes place between June and September in the highland regions.
The dry season from May through October provides favorable conditions for visiting parks and observing wildlife across all regions. International flights land at Ivato Airport near Antananarivo, visas are issued on arrival, and malaria prevention is advised for coastal areas.
Around ninety percent of plant and animal species exist nowhere else on Earth, including more than one hundred lemur species. Six different baobab species grow exclusively here, while only one additional species occurs on the African continent.
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