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Antananarivo

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	Antananarivo
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	Topics Antananarivo Topic Home Location Antananarivo is situated in the center of the islandIsland An island or isle is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water.... length-wise, and 145 km (90 miles) away from the eastern coast. The city occupies a commanding position, being built on the summitSummit A summit is:* A point higher than all the ground immediately surrounding it; see topographical summit.... and slopes of a long and narrow rockRock (geology) A rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.... y ridgeRidge A ridge is a geological feature that features a continuous elevational crest for some distance.... , which extends north and south for about and rising at its highest point to about above the extensive rice plain to the west, although the town is at about above sea level. It is Madagascar's largest cityCity A city is an urban area that is differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or ... and is its administrativeAdministration (government) The term administration, as used in the context of government, differs according to jurisdiction.... , communicationCommunication Communication is the process of sharing information.... s, and economic center. The city is located west-southwest of ToamasinaToamasina Toamasina, often known as Tamatave, is the capital of Toamasina Province, and the chief seaport of Madagascar, situate... , the principal seaportSeaport A seaport is a facility for receiving seafaring ships and transferring cargo to and from them.... of the island, with which it is connected by railway, and for about along the coastal lagoonLagoon This article is about natural lagoons.... s, a service of small steamers. History Unlike most capital cities in southern AfricaSouthern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics.... , Antananarivo was already a major city before the colonial era. The city was founded circa 1625 by King Andrianjaka and takes its name (the City of the Thousand) from the number of soldiers assigned to guarding it. For many years it was the principal villageVillage A village is a human residential settlement commonly found in rural areas.... of the Hova chiefsTribal chief A traditional tribal chief is the leader of a tribe, or the head of a tribal form of self-government.... and gained importance as those chiefs made themselves sovereignsHead of State Overview Head of State or Chief of State is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief p... of the greater part of MadagascarMadagascar Madagascar, , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa, close to Mozambique.... , eventually becoming a townTown A town is a residential community of people ranging from a few hundred to several thousands, although it may be applied loos... of some 80,000 inhabitants. In 1793 it was made the capitalCapital In politics, a capital is the principal city or town associated with a country's government.... of the MerinaMerina The Merina is the largest ethnic group in Madagascar.... kingMonarch A monarch is a type of ruler or head of state.... s. The conquests of King Radama I made Antananarivo the capital of almost all of MadagascarMadagascar Madagascar, , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa, close to Mozambique.... . Until 1869 all buildings within the cityCity A city is an urban area that is differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or ... proper were of woodWood Wood is derived from woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs.... or rushesJuncus *Juncus* is a genus of the Juncaceae family.... , but even then it possessed several timber palacePalace In English a palace is the home of a head of state or other high-ranking public figure.... s of considerable size, the largest being high. These crown the summit of the central portion of the ridge; and the largest palace, with its lofty roofRoof The roof, the top covering of a building, is one of the universal structures found on all buildings.... and towerTower A tower is a tall man-made structure, always taller than it is wide, and usually much higher.... s, is the most conspicuous object from every point of view. Since the introduction of stone and brickBrick Brick is an artificial stone made by forming clay into rectangular blocks which are hardened, either by burning in a kiln or... , the entire city has been rebuilt and now contains numerous European-style structures, including the royal palaces, the houses formerly belonging to the prime ministerPrime minister A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system.... and nobles, the FrenchFrench people French people can refer to:* The legal residents and citizens of France, regardless of ancestry.... residency, the Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals, and several stone churches. Present day The city was captured by the FrenchFrance France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and whi... in 1895 and incorporated into their Madagascar protectorateProtectorate Summary In international law a protectorate is a political entity that formally agrees by treaty to enter into an unequal relationsh... . After the French conquest of MadagascarHistory of Madagascar The written history of Madagascar began in the seventh century A.D., when Arabs established trading posts along the northwest coas... when the city had a population of some 100,000, it was extensively remodeled as the population grew to 175,000 by 1950. Roads were constructed throughout the city, broad flights of steps connecting places too steep for the formation of carriage roads, and the central space, called Andohalo, was enhanced with walks, terraces, flower-beds and trees. Water, previously obtained from springs at the foot of the hill, was brought from the Ikopa RiverIkopa River The Ikopa River is the second longest waterway in Madagascar and passes through the capital, Antananarivo.... , which skirts the capital to the south and west. After independence in 1960 the pace of growth increased rapidly. The city's population reached 1.4 million by the end of the twentieth century. Industries include food productsFood Food is any substance, usually comprised primarily of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, water and/or proteins, that can be eate... , cigaretteCigarette A cigarette is a tobacco product manufactured out of cured and finely cut tobacco leaves, which are rolled or stuffed into a... s, and textiles. The city is guarded by two forts built on hills to the east and south-west. Including an Anglican and a Roman Catholic cathedral, there are about fifty churches in the city and its suburbs, as well as a MuslimMuslim A Muslim is an adherent of Islam.... mosqueMosque A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith.... . Antananarivo hosts a campus of the University of MadagascarUniversity of Madagascar The University of Madagascar was the former name of the centralized public university system in Madagascar, although the ori... and the Collège Rural d'Ambatobe. Sister cities YerevanYerevan Yerevan is the largest city and capital of Armenia.... , ArmeniaArmenia Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked mountainous country in the Southern Caucasus , bordered ... SuzhouSuzhou Summary Suzhou is a famous city with a long history on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in th... , ChinaChina China is a cultural region and ancient civilization in East Asia.... 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