Landscapes and geology

From Mgias

The country is an area of contrasts, from the flat western savannahs with stands of baobabs through the grassy rolling hills and valleys of the Central-Highlands which have been covered by irrigated rice-paddies to the sheer cliffs of the east coast where the remains of some damp rainforests can be found. The western region is distinguished from the Highlands not only by its lower elevation, but also by its geological structure. In the west, the 152,000 hectares BEMARAHA National Park has been declared a WORLD HERITAGE SITE.

The northern region is characterised by a variety of landscapes and geology related to four different vegetation types:

The humid forest of the volcanic Montagne d'Ambre national park . The high mountain forest of Tsaratanana massif the country’s highest point is 2876 meters high and receives heavy rain frequently, and Marojejy national park. The dry deciduous forest has 3 of the country’s 7 baobab species and succulent plants. The Tsingy of Ankarana special reserve is situated on limestone cliffs and limestone and sandy soils. The transition forest of Daraina unprotected area near Vohémar, which composed by a mixture of half dry and half humid forest which is the only home of the most endangered lemur: the golden crowned sifaka (propithecus tattersalli).

The northern native vegetation is home of rich biodiversity and endangered species such as the crowned lemur, northern fork marked dwarf lemur and the rare black sifaka lemur, the golden crowned sifaka lemur. All these four species of lemur are restricted only in the north.