Découvrez MADAGASCAR : Capitale Mondiale de la Production de Vanille

Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean. It was formerly known as the Malagasy Republic, but is now officially called the Republic of Madagascar. It has an area of ​​592,800 square kilometers, making it the second-largest island nation in the world. Madagascar consists of the island of Madagascar and several smaller outlying islands. It lies approximately 400 kilometers off the east coast of Africa, across the Mozambique Channel. Malagasy and French are the official languages. Its capital is Antananarivo, and its currency is the Malagasy ariary. Madagascar is nicknamed the eighth continent because nearly 8% of its species are found nowhere else in the world. It is home to unique plant and animal species. The country's flora and fauna have evolved independently of other continents. Its fascinating national parks will surprise you with a variety of lemurs such as the greater Indri and the silky Sifaka, beautiful chameleons, rainforests filled with orchids, Grandidier's baobabs, geckos, tenrecs, and many more. According to a review of Peter Tyson's book on Madagascar, "Madagascar is a land where lizards scream and monkey-like lemurs sing songs of inexpressible beauty. It is a place where creatures you may never have heard of—fossa and tenrecs, vangas and aye-ayes—thrive in a veritable 'lost world' with bizarre plants like the octopus and the three-horned palm. And where the ancestors of the Malagasy, as the island's inhabitants are called, come to life in exuberant ceremonies known as 'turning the bones.' Madagascar has not yet been proclaimed the eighth continent. Madagascar is called the 'Great Red Island' because of the predominance of red lateritic soils. Red soils are found mainly in the central highlands. Much richer soils are also found in areas of ancient volcanic activity, such as Tsaratanana in the north and Itasy and..." Ankaratra. Astronauts observing Madagascar from the International Space Station see striking river sites. Rivers on islands? Oh yes! The longest is the Mangoky River, stretching 350 miles. Other rivers include the Onilahy, Betsiboka, Sofia, Ihosy, Zomandao, Menarandra, and Mahavavy. The waters are often a rusty red due to heavy loads of suspended sediment. They pick up large quantities of sediment, often red soils and iron-rich rocks. These are called laterites. Besides being called the Great Red Island, Madagascar is also known as the Rainbow Island and the Eighth Continent. It was formerly called the Island of Saint Lawrence by the Portuguese, who frequently raided Madagascar in the 16th century. During the golden age of piracy, Madagascar was the perfect haven for pirates. Piracy was so widespread... that it threatened the global economy. The lucrative trade of the colonial powers of Spain, the Americas, France, and Great Britain was affected. The Caribbean Sea became extremely dangerous with the influx of pirates to Madagascar. For example, at one point in the 1600s, there were approximately 1,500 pirates living on the island. According to a Springerlink article published in May 2021, the SAVA region of northwestern Madagascar is the largest vanilla-producing region in the world. More than half of the world's vanilla production comes from this region. This is due to the strong global demand for natural vanilla since 2014. Prices for dried black vanilla rose from less than $50 USD to $600 USD between 2012 and 2018. The main flavor of vanilla is due to the presence of vanillin, an organic compound that provides sweet, warm, and creamy flavors. Vanilla from Madagascar has higher concentrations of vanillin than vanilla beans from other countries. In 2019, Madagascar exported $651 million worth of vanilla, making it the world's leading vanilla exporter. Next time you enjoy vanilla ice cream, at least know that the vanilla bean is produced in Madagascar and Indonesia. Don't forget to like, comment, and share the video. SUBSCRIBE and TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to be notified every time we upload a new video! Email: [email protected] © 2022, Africa Revealed