Short facts about the geography of Madagascar

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  587,040 sq km land:  581,540 sq km water:  5,500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

4,828 km

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone:  24 NM continental shelf:  200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Indian Ocean 0 m highest point:  Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural resources:

graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land:  4% permanent crops:  1% permanent pastures:  41% forests and woodland:  40% other:  14% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

10,870 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic cyclones

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

Source: World Factbook