What does the name Madagascar mean?

What does the name Madagascar mean?

In 1885, Alfred Grandidier, a naturalist and French explorer, arrived in Madagascar, and devoted his life to the study of the island. Though to date, no concrete origin for the term ‘Madagascar’ has been found, many know it as the country of ‘moramora,’ meaning ‘no hurry’.

Is Madagascar Indian or African?

Destination Madagascar, the big red island. Madagascar is the largest African island situated in the Indian Ocean, about 450 km (280 mi) east of the coast of Mozambique. The fourth largest island in the world has been isolated for about 88 million years and many of its plants and animals are unique to the island.

When did the first people come to Madagascar?

Early history. Archaeological investigations in the 20th century indicated that human settlers reached Madagascar about 700 ce. Although the huge island lies geographically close to Bantu -speaking Africa, its language, Malagasy, belongs to the distant Western Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

What is the capital of the Republic of Madagascar?

Fast Facts: Madagascar Official Name: Republic of Madagascar Capital: Antananarivo Population: 25,683,610 (2018) Official Languages: French, Malagasy Currency: Malagasy ariary (MGA) Form of Government: Semi-presidential republic Climate: Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

What are the facts about the island Madagascar?

Fast Facts: Madagascar 1 Official Name: 2 Capital: 3 Population: 4 Official Languages: 5 Currency: 6 Form of Government: 7 Climate: 8 Total Area: 9 Highest Point: 10 Lowest Point: It is believed that Madagascar was uninhabited until the 1st century CE when sailors from Indonesia arrived on the island.

Where is Madagascar located in the Indian Ocean?

Madagascar is a large island nation located in the Indian Ocean east of Africa and the country Mozambique. It is the fourth largest island in the world and it is an African country.