Search Geography Explorer

Search countries, cities, rivers, lakes, deserts, oceans, islands and more

Fun facts about Madagascar

5 facts - tap any card to flip it and learn more.

Discover more facts
Malagasy ancestry reflects a blend of Southeast Asian, Oceanian, and Bantu (Southeast African) roots.
island

The name Madagascar is likely derived from the Arabic term 'Gesira Malai', meaning 'Malay island'.

Madagascar
Madagascar
Tap to learn more
island

Madagascar

Madagascar

Area
587,041 km²
Location
Madagascar
4th largest island in the world

Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country in the Indian Ocean that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands.

From the “Etymology” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Saveoursmile (Hery Zo Rakotondramanana) · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fact 1 permalink
Malagasy ancestry reflects a blend of Southeast Asian, Oceanian, and Bantu (Southeast African) roots.
island

Madagascar is one of the most recent major landmasses on Earth to be settled by humans.

Madagascar
Madagascar
Tap to learn more
island

Madagascar

Madagascar

Area
587,041 km²
Location
Madagascar
4th largest island in the world

Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country in the Indian Ocean that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Saveoursmile (Hery Zo Rakotondramanana) · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fact 2 permalink
Malagasy ancestry reflects a blend of Southeast Asian, Oceanian, and Bantu (Southeast African) roots.
island

The first settlers of Madagascar encountered megafauna, including giant lemurs and the elephant bird, which are now extinct.

Madagascar
Madagascar
Tap to learn more
island

Madagascar

Madagascar

Area
587,041 km²
Location
Madagascar
4th largest island in the world

Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country in the Indian Ocean that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Saveoursmile (Hery Zo Rakotondramanana) · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fact 3 permalink
Malagasy ancestry reflects a blend of Southeast Asian, Oceanian, and Bantu (Southeast African) roots.
island

Queen Ranavalona I prohibited Christianity in Madagascar and enforced the tangena ordeal, which caused about 3,000 deaths annually.

Madagascar
Madagascar
Tap to learn more
island

Madagascar

Madagascar

Area
587,041 km²
Location
Madagascar
4th largest island in the world

Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country in the Indian Ocean that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Saveoursmile (Hery Zo Rakotondramanana) · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fact 4 permalink
Malagasy ancestry reflects a blend of Southeast Asian, Oceanian, and Bantu (Southeast African) roots.
island

Madagascar was declared a French colony in 1897 after the Menalamba rebellion was suppressed.

Madagascar
Madagascar
Tap to learn more
island

Madagascar

Madagascar

Area
587,041 km²
Location
Madagascar
4th largest island in the world

Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country in the Indian Ocean that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Saveoursmile (Hery Zo Rakotondramanana) · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fact 5 permalink