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Achieving independence on Saturday, July 9th, 2011 after 99% of southern Sudan people voted in a referendum to form a sovereign country of their own, the landlocked Republic of SOUTH SUDAN is currently the world’s newest country and is located at the confluence of East Africa and North Africa. The introduction of South Sudan to the world meant that Sudan is no longer Africa's largest country. South Sudan borders six countries: Central African Republic located to the west, Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R. Congo) to the south, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Sudan to the north, and Uganda to the south. The currency of South Sudan is the South Sudanese Pound, and its ISO 4217 currency code is SSP. 100 Piasters equal one South Sudanese Pound. The Sudanese Pound (SDG) currency was used for several months after achieving independence from Sudan.
● ● ● ● ● People and Places ● ● ● ● ● Based on the GeoFact of the Day Blog’s 2016 estimate, South Sudan’s total population hovers around 11.15 million. The national capital is located at Juba, home to about 375,000 residents. Other cities and towns scattered throughout South Sudan include Ayod, Gumbiel, Kapoeta, Malakal (a once-thriving city destroyed by civil wars), Nyamllel, Paloich, Popiu, Raga, Tonga, and Waw. There are about 68 ethnic groups and native languages present in South Sudan. Major ethnicities and languages include Acholi, Anuak, Avokaya, Baka, Bari (600,000 people), Beli, Didinga, Dinka (1,370,000), Gbaya, Jur Modo (also known as Jur, or Modo), Kakwa, Lango, Lopit, Luwo, Mabaan, Mandari, Morokodo, Mündü, Murle, Ndogo, Nuer (800,000), Olu'bo, Otuho, Reel, Shilluk, Toposa, Uduk, and Zande (450,000). English is South Sudan's official language, while Sudanese Arabic and Sudanese Creole Arabic are other widely communicated languages. Over 80% of South Sudanese citizens adhere to native religions and traditions, while others are mostly Christian or Islamic.
● ● ● ● ● Land Features ● ● ● ● ● Especially compared to Sudan, South Sudan possesses thousands of forested acres and also gained access to oil resources – but currently lacks the infrastructure required to properly refine and distribute this money-making commodity. Several national parks attempt to protect forests from natural resource exploitation and animal poaching. These parks include Boma National Park, Nimule National Park, and Southern National Park. The mighty White Nile river flows north to south in eastern South Sudan, bypassing communities such as (from north to south) Geiger, Ar Rank, El Galhak, Paloich, Kodok, Malakal, Bor, Malek, Tombe, Terakeka, Lado, Juba, and Kajo-Kaji. The Qanat Junqoley (Qanāt Junqalī) canal provides a shortcut to shorten the winding river, signifying the importance of boat-based transportation in surrounding communities. South Sudan's highest point is Mount Kinyeti, standing at an elevation of 3,187 meters (over 10,455 feet) near Uganda. Kinyeti is the Imatong mountain range's prominent peak, and its located is west of the Didinga Hills and east of Juba.
This post was comprehensively updated on August 25th, 2016.
UGANDA is a landlocked country located in Eastern Africa. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan are bordering countries. Uganda also borders Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. There are other large lakes in Uganda, including Lake Albert and Lake Edward. The capital and most-populated city is Kampala. Other cities include Arua, Gulu, Kabale, Kisoro, Lira, Mbarara, Soroti, and Tororo. The currency is the Ugandan Shilling, and its ISO 4217 currency code is UGX.
Map Credit: © Maps of the World (mapsofworld.com)
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A prominent destination for adventures including safaris, the United Republic of TANZANIA (Swahili: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania) is a country situated in Eastern Africa and west of the Indian Ocean. There are 7 bordering countries: Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia. It also borders Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is located across from Lake Tanganyika. Worthwhile environmental destinations in Tanzania include the aforementioned lakes, Zanzibar and Pemba islands in the east, Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti plain, and Olduvai Gorge. The current capital is Dodoma, and the former capital was located at Dar es Salaam. The currency is the Tanzanian Shilling, and its ISO 4217 currency code is TZS.
A war-torn country with no central government, SOMALIA is situated in the Horn of Africa in Eastern Africa. There are 3 bordering countries west of Somalia: Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Part of the border with Ethiopia is still in dispute because Somalia claims Ogaden, an Eastern Ethiopia region where Somalis make up a dominant part of the population. Located in Northern Somalia, Somaliland (which is shown on this National Geographic map) is an autonomous region claiming independence since 1991; Hargeysa is its capital. Somalia also borders the Gulf of Aden (north of Somalia) and the Indian Ocean (east). Situated along the Indian Ocean coast in the country's southern part, Somalia's capital and largest city is Mogadishu (Muqdisho). Somalia and Arabic are the official languages, and Islam is the most worshipped religion. The currency is the Somali Shilling, and its ISO 4217 currency code is SOS.
SEYCHELLES (pronounced "say shells") is a country with more than 100 islands in Eastern Africa and is located in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles, which is the smallest country in Africa, is northeast of Madagascar and southeast of Somalia. Seychelles' official languages are Seychellois Creole, English, and French, and Roman Catholicism is the largest religion. The major island is Mahé, where the capital Victoria resides. Other islands include Curieuse, La Digue, Praslin, Recife, and Silhouette. The currency is the Seychelles Rupee, and its ISO 4217 currency code is SCR.
Comprised of a couple dozen small islands and the main namesake island, MAURITIUS is an island country situated in Southeastern Africa in the Indian Ocean. The much larger island of Madagascar is west of Mauritius. Mauritius' capital is Port Louis, which is situated along the northwestern coast of Mauritius island. Other communities include Centre de Flacq, Grand Baie, Mahébourg, Pamplemousses, Phoenix, Rose Belle, Souillac, Tamarin, Triolet, and Vacoas. The currency is the Mauritian Rupee, and its ISO 4217 currency code is MUR.
● ● ● ● ● Table of Contents ● ● ● ● ●
Intro and General Facts ● People and Places ● Land Features ● Volcanoes
Famous for its biodiversity, vanilla orchids, paradise-like coastlines, and lemurs, the Republic of MADAGASCAR is a southeast African island country that achieved independence from France in June 26th, 1960. The island country is officially known as Repoblikan’i Madagasikara in the Malagasy language and République de Madagascar in the French language; Malagasy Republic is an acceptable name as well. The Indian Ocean is east of Madagascar, and the north-south Mozambique Channel separates Madagascar's west coast from mainland Africa. While Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, more than a dozen smaller islands are also included within the country's territory.
Neighboring countries include Comoros and Tanzania to the northwest, Mauritius to the east, Mozambique to the west, and Seychelles to the northeast. Madagascar's world-renown vanilla provides an orchid-based alternative to the synthetic vanilla compounds found in most processed food today. The extraction of this vanilla currently requires a labor-intensive pollination process by hand. Some other exports for trade (↗) are cinnamon, clothing, coffee, gemstones, and seafood. The Malagasy Ariary is Madagascar's currency, and its ISO 4217 currency code is MGA. Among the world's few remaining non-decimal currencies is the Ariary, as 5 iraimbilanja (francs) equal 1 ariary. The former Malagasy Franc — subdivided into 100 centimes — was used for transactions alongside the Ariary until 2005.
● ● ● ● ● People and Places ● ● ● ● ● The Hammond World Atlas (6th Edition) reports the total population in Madagascar as 20,653,556 in 2011. In close comparison, nearby Mozambique had 21,669,278 residents in 2011. The capital and largest city of Madagascar is Antananarivo. Its metropolitan area is home to over 2.6 million residents (2015 estimate). Other Malagasy cities include Ambatondrazaka, Amboasary, Antsirabe, Betioky, Farafangana, Ifanadiana, Iharan̈a (Vohemar), Mahajanga, Maintirano, Tsiroanomandidy, and Vohipeno. Popular places all across the country to visit include the Ambaro Ranch, Analakely Market in Antananarivo, Antsirabe Cathedral, Avenue of the Baobabs, Fort Manda, Lemurs' Park, Le Palais de la Reine (Queen's Palace) and the Rova royal-palace complex, Les Trois Baies (The Three Bays) beach, Lokaro Beach, Lokobe Nature Special Reserve, pirate cemetery on the island of Boraha, Pirate Museum in Antananarivo, Tsimbazaza Zoo, and Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve.
Malagasy and French are the two official languages, and approximately 90% of the population shares a Malagasy ethnic heritage according to Encyclopedia Britannica (↗). The Ethnologue (↗) linguistic information website notes that Malagasy Sign Language is utilized by anywhere from 110,000 to 170,000 people in the year 2014. Fourteen main languages are used for communication, eleven of which are grouped within the Malagasy macrolanguages. Most of the languages' names correspond to their respective ethnic populations. The microlanguages are Antankarana, Bara, Masikoro, Northern Betsimisaraka, Plateau, Sakalava, Southern Betsimisaraka, Tandroy-Mahafaly (Antandroy), Tanosy, Tesaka, and Tsimihety. One population not aforementioned in this paragraph is the Merina people; they are scattered around the country and are "the largest and most dominant of the groups," according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
The Merina, Betsileo, Bezanozano, Sihanaka, Tanala, and Zafimaniry populations communicate with dialects grouped under the Malagasy Plateau language umbrella. Some ethnic populations have nicknames assigned to them, although Encyclopedia Britannica notes that some of these nicknames are not true to their respective indigenous cultures — but rather hasty carryovers from the time when France colonially ruled Madagascar. Nevertheless, some of these nicknames — listed in the table below — give subtle insight into the daily lives and habitats of these people. About 50% of Malagasy citizens are Christians, followed by believers in folk religions and traditions (45%), Muslims (2%), Bahá'í believers (0.1%), and Hindus (0.06%).
| Antaifasy | "people of the sand" |
| Antaimoro | "people of the banks" |
| Antakarana | "people of the rocks" |
| Antandroy | "people of the thorn bush" |
| Antanosy | "people of the island" |
| Betanimena | "people of the red soil" |
| Betsileo | "the invincible multitude" |
| Betsimisaraka | "the inseparable multitude" |
| Bezanozano | "those of many small plaits" or
"those with many-braided hair" |
| Mahafaly | "those who make taboos" |
| Merina (Imerina) | "elevated people" |
| Sakalava | "people of the long valley" |
| Sihanaka | "people of the lake" |
| Tanala | "people of the forest" |
| Tsimihety | "those who do not cut their hair" |
● ● ● ● ● Land Features ● ● ● ● ● A mountain called Maromokotro is the highest point in Madagascar. Specifically, Maromokotro stands 2,876 meters and 9,436 feet high in elevation. This and other mountain peaks combine to form the Tsaratanana Massif. Several other notable mountain peaks throughout the country include Boby (2,658 meters), Tampon Ambohitra (1,475 meters), and Tsiafajavona (2,643 meters). The north-to-south Angavo Escarpment forms a ridge parallel to the eastern coastline, demarcating a transition between coastal lowlands and interior uplands. Smaller land features from the north to south in the western half of Madagascar include the Ikahavo Plateau, Cliff of Bongolava uplands, Bemaraha Plateau, Makay Massif, Isalo Massif, and Mahafaly Plateau. Onward to the eastern half of Madagascar, predominant land features from north to south include the Tsaratanana Massif, Analamaitso Plateau, Ankaratra Massif, Andringitra Mountains, Manamby Mountains, Beampingaratra Ridge, and Androy Plateau.
Transitioning from inland features to the peripheries of Madagascar, the mountainous and hilly terrain in interior areas make way for coastal landmasses of various shapes and sizes along the coast. Jutting southward from the towns of Antalaha and Maroantsetra toward Antongila Bay is the Masoala Peninsula (↗) (Saikanosin' Masoala), a northeastern Madagascar wedge of land visible on the GeoFact of the Day Blog map above. The smaller-scale land feature located at the tip of Masoala Peninsula is Tanjona Masoala. Tanjona translates from Malagasy into English as cape, while Saikanosin' translates to peninsula. Saikanosin' Ambato, Saikanosin' Ampasindava, Tanjona Ankatafa, Tanjona Bobaomby, Tanjona Makamby, Saikanosin' Orontany (Androntany), Tanjona Vilanandro, and Tanjona Vohilava are other prominent capes and peninsulas along Madagascar's craggy northern and northwestern coast. Also known as Cape Ambre in English or Cap d'Ambre in French, Tanjona Bobaomby is shaped like a northward arrow and is therefore fittingly the northernmost point of mainland Madagascar.
Identified as the country's largest bay, Antongila Bay is approximately 3,154 square kilometers and 1,218 square miles wide in area. A smaller but still-substantial bay at 175 square kilometers and 68 square miles in geographic area is Antsiran̈ana Bay, aptly located near the city of Antsiran̈ana close to the country's northernmost tip (Tanjona Bobaomby). The Ampangalana (Pangalanes) Canal provides a 645-kilometer (401-mile) long transportation route through natural rivers, altered waterways, and artificial lakes in close proximity to the eastern coastline. Ampangalana Canal is east of the aforementioned Angavo Escarpment and Cliff of Angavo. The following communities benefitting from this canal are listed in order from north to south: Mahavelona (near the canal's starting point), Nosibe, Toamasina, Andovoranto, Vatomandry (nickname: "sleeping rocks"), Mahanoro, Masomeloka, Nosy-Varika ("lemur island"), Mananjary, Manakara, Vohipeno, and Farafangana (near the canal's terminus). Six of these towns and cities are featured on the map above, giving you an idea of how close this canal really is to Madagascar's east coast and Indian Ocean.
● ● ● ● ● Volcanoes ● ● ● ● ● Madagascar boasts more than mountains, cliffs, massifs, and plateaus; the country can say it possesses volcanoes as well. Madagascar's volcanoes are dormant rather than active, and information about past eruptions is non-existent or inconclusive for most of those. Further described below, these are the volcanic fields containing at least several volcanic features: Ambre-Bobaomby (near the country's northern tip), Ankaizina (north), Itasy (central), and Vakinankaratra (Ankaratra) (east-central).
Sitting on the Ambre Massif, Ambre-Bobaomby has crater lakes and relatively new volcanic cones. According to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program (↗), 51,246 people live within 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) of the Ambre-Bobaomby volcanic field. Ankaizina contains cinder cones and lava domes and was "active until the very recent Quaternary" geologic period. 41,916 people live within 30 kilometers of the Ankaizina volcanic field. Occasionally the epicenter for earthquakes, Itasy features craters and scoria cones as well as the following lava domes: Ambohibe, Ampary, Angavo, Ingilofotsy, and Kitia. Named scoria cones include Ambohimalala, Ambohitritainerina, Ambohitrondry, Andranojavatra, Kassijie (Kassigie), Kitombold, Matiankanina, and Tsifajavona. Itasy's two major craters are Andranoratsy and Andranotoraha. Geologists, seismologists, volcanologists, and related scientists purport that there were at least two Holocene eruptions at Itasy based on radiocarbon dating of geologic materials: 6,050 B.C. and also 8,031 B.C. (give or take 139 years).
Nosy Be (Nossi Be), Madagascar's second-largest island after the mainland Madagascar island, is rimmed by a cluster of cinder cones and crater lakes. Nosy Be's volcanic features contain foidite, basalt, picrobasalt, and rhyolite. About 62,000 inhabitants of Nosy Be and surrounding areas live within 30 kilometers of these features. Cinder cones with basanite, craters, fissure vents, and lava domes with trachyte form the landscape of the Vakinankaratra volcanic field. Named volcanic features at Vakinankaratra include Amboniloha (cone), Ampasimihaiky (cone), Andraikiba (crater), Iavoko (cone), Ifasina (cone), Itavo (cone), Ivohitra (cone), Tramponga (cone), Tritriva (cone), and Tritrivakely (crater). The following list details the dominant rock types of each volcanic field: basalt and picrobasalt at Ambre-Bobaomby and Ankaizina; basanite, tephrite, and trachybasalt at Vakinankaratra; foidite at Nosy Be; and trachyte and trachydacite at Itasy.
This post was updated with more information on March 17th, 2019. The map of Madagascar was uploaded to this post on February 27th, 2019.
Click here to enlarge the map in a new window. This map is available in a wall-poster size courtesy of Eric Olason at Maps.com.
KENYA is a geographically diverse country located in Eastern Africa; Kenya boasts savanna landscapes, tall mountains (like Mt. Kenya), a few rainforests, and more. The southeastern part of the country borders the Indian Ocean while the southwestern part borders Lake Victoria. There are 5 bordering countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. The capital is Nairobi. The currency is the Kenyan Shilling, and its ISO 4217 currency code is KES.
Straddling the northern section of the Great Rift Valley, ETHIOPIA is a landlocked country in Eastern Africa; when Eritrea gained its independence in 1991, Ethiopia lost its access to the Red Sea. There are 6 bordering countries: Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan. The capital and most-populated city is Addis Ababa (Ādīs Ābeba), and other Ethiopian cities include Debre Zeyit (Bishoftu), Desē, Dirē Dawa, Bahir Dar south of Lake Tana, Gonder, Hārer, Jīma, Mek'elē, and Nazrēt. The Great Rift Valley stretches diagonally in a northeast-southwest direction. In southwestern Ethiopia, the valley boasts three large lakes: Abaya Hāyk' (northeast lake), Cha'mo Hāyk' (center lake), and the intermittent Ch'ew Bahir lake (southwest lake). Amharic is Ethiopia's official language. As you probably figured out, hāyk' (or hayk) is the Ethiopian word for lake. The Great Rift Valley encounters more lakes before traveling east of Addis Ababa, then northeast towards Djibouti. The currency Ethiopians use is the Ethiopian Birr, and its ISO 4217 currency code is ETB.
ERITREA is an East African country located in the peninsular Horn of Africa region, west of the Red Sea. There are 3 bordering countries: Djibouti to the southeast, Ethiopia to the south, and Sudan to the west. Eritrea has a population greater than 5.9 million, according to a 2014 estimate. The capital and largest-populated city in Eritrea is Asmara, inhabited by about 1.15 million residents in the metropolitan area with over 560,000 residents in the main city limits. The currency is the Eritrean Nakfa, and its ISO 4217 currency code is ERN.
DJIBOUTI is a tiny country located in the Horn of Africa in eastern Africa. There are 3 bordering countries: Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Eritrea is north and northwest of Djibouti, Ethiopia is west and southwest, and Somalia is southeast. Being a seaside country, Djibouti is found near the confluence of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Bab al-Mandab strait connects the Red Sea to the north with the Gulf of Aden to the east; it is located east of northern Djibouti. The Sawabi Islands (Seven Brothers Islands) in the Bab al-Mandab strait are found east of the village Fagal. The eastward-facing "mouth" of Djibouti is the Gulf of Tadjoura, and the Tadjura Trough extends from that gulf eastward to the larger Gulf of Aden. The Gulf of Tadjoura features the Maskali Islands. The capital of Djibouti is aptly named Djibouti! The currency is the Djiboutian Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is DJF.
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