Toamasina
Encyclopedia
Toamasina toˈmasinə̥, meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French
also Tamatave, is a city (commune urbaine) on the east coast of Madagascar
on the Indian Ocean
. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated 215 km (133.6 mi) northeast of its capital and biggest city Antananarivo
, near the centre of the eastern coast at 18 10 S, 49 32 E. According to the 2001 census, Toamasina had population of 179,045. The city is served by Toamasina Airport
.
region. Gervais Rakotomanana is the president of the city by special delegation since 30 May 2007. The former mayor, Roland Ratsiraka
, was suspended after a decision in the municipal council in early 2007.
Toamasina owes its importance to the existence of a coral reef
which forms a spacious and fairly commodious harbour, entered by two openings. The city center is built on a sandy peninsula which projects at right angles from the general coastline. On this are crowded together a considerable number of houses, with shops and merchant offices located in the main thoroughfares.
The city has wide palm tree-lined avenues and a wide selection of hotels and restaurants. The beaches in this area are famously beautiful, although sharks and pollution often prevent swimming and watersports. Bazary Be is a famous colorful street market, specailizing in exotic spices and locally made handicrafts. The central market in the heart of the city is one of the most popular sites in the city.
The city is home to the University of Toamasina
, which is part of Madagascar's public university system. Toamasina is also the see city of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toamasina.
Under French domination, Toamasina was the seat of several foreign consuls, as well as of numerous French officials, and was the chief port for the capital and the interior. Imports consisted principally of piece-goods, farinaceous foods, and iron and steel goods, and exports of gold dust, raffia, hides, caoutchouc (rubber
) and live animals. Communication with Europe was maintained by steamers of the Messageries Maritimes
and the Havraise companies, and also with Mauritius
, and thence to Sri Lanka
, by the British Union-Castle Line
.
Owing to the character of the soil and the formerly crowded native population, the town has often been attacked by epidemics: the plague
broke out in 1898, and again in 1900; but since the draining of the neighboring marshes, there has been improvement. After 1895 the native population was removed from the town and settled in a new village to the north-west. A telegraph, 180 miles in length, connects Toamasina with the capital. There is also a service, partly by railway and partly by steamer, along the coast lagoons, connecting the port with Antananarivo.
under the Koppen climate classification
. While Toamasina has no true dry season
month where less than 60 mm of precipitation (on average) falls, the seaport has noticeably wetter and drier periods of the year. September–November is the driest period of the year, while February–April is the wettest time of the year. Average temperatures are relatively constant throughout the course of the year, though it is slightly cooler in the months of July and August, where average highs hover around 24 degrees Celsius and warmer in the months of January and February, where high temperatures on average reaches 30 degrees Celsius. Toamasina averages roughly 3,250 mm of precipitation annually.
Regional Tourist information office - Toamasina Informations about events in Toamasina Regional Harbour of Toamasina web site of the Atsinanana Region
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
also Tamatave, is a city (commune urbaine) on the east coast of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
on the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated 215 km (133.6 mi) northeast of its capital and biggest city Antananarivo
Antananarivo
Antananarivo , formerly Tananarive , is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. It is also known by its French colonial shorthand form Tana....
, near the centre of the eastern coast at 18 10 S, 49 32 E. According to the 2001 census, Toamasina had population of 179,045. The city is served by Toamasina Airport
Toamasina Airport
Toamasina Airport is an airport in Toamasina, Atsinanana Region, Madagascar .-Scheduled services:...
.
Overview
Toamasina is the capital of AtsinananaAtsinanana
Atsinanana is a region in eastern Madagascar. It borders Analanjirofo region in north, Alaotra-Mangoro in west, Vakinankaratra and Amoron'i Mania in southwest and Vatovavy-Fitovinany in south.Atsinanana region is divided into seven districts:...
region. Gervais Rakotomanana is the president of the city by special delegation since 30 May 2007. The former mayor, Roland Ratsiraka
Roland Ratsiraka
Iarovana Roland Ratsiraka is a Malagasy politician.Born in Antananarivo, Roland is the nephew of former President Didier Ratsiraka. He studied both in Madagascar and in France, before founding several companies....
, was suspended after a decision in the municipal council in early 2007.
Toamasina owes its importance to the existence of a coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
which forms a spacious and fairly commodious harbour, entered by two openings. The city center is built on a sandy peninsula which projects at right angles from the general coastline. On this are crowded together a considerable number of houses, with shops and merchant offices located in the main thoroughfares.
The city is home to the University of Toamasina
University of Toamasina
The University of Toamasina is a public university in Madagascar, in the city of Toamasina.The school was formerly part of the University of Madagascar system, along with public universities in Antanarivo, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara and Fianarantsoa...
, which is part of Madagascar's public university system. Toamasina is also the see city of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toamasina.
Under French domination, Toamasina was the seat of several foreign consuls, as well as of numerous French officials, and was the chief port for the capital and the interior. Imports consisted principally of piece-goods, farinaceous foods, and iron and steel goods, and exports of gold dust, raffia, hides, caoutchouc (rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
) and live animals. Communication with Europe was maintained by steamers of the Messageries Maritimes
Messageries Maritimes
The Messageries Maritimes is an old French maritime company. It was originally created in 1851 as Messageries Nationales, later called Messageries Impériales, and in 1871, Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes.-History:...
and the Havraise companies, and also with Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, and thence to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, by the British Union-Castle Line
Union-Castle Line
The Union-Castle Line was a prominent British shipping line that operated a fleet of passenger liners and cargo ships between Europe and Africa from 1900 to 1977. It was formed from the merger of the Union Line and Castle Shipping Line...
.
Owing to the character of the soil and the formerly crowded native population, the town has often been attacked by epidemics: the plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
broke out in 1898, and again in 1900; but since the draining of the neighboring marshes, there has been improvement. After 1895 the native population was removed from the town and settled in a new village to the north-west. A telegraph, 180 miles in length, connects Toamasina with the capital. There is also a service, partly by railway and partly by steamer, along the coast lagoons, connecting the port with Antananarivo.
Climate
Toamasina features a tropical rainforest climateTropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate, also known as an equatorial climate, is a tropical climate usually found along the equator...
under the Koppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
. While Toamasina has no true dry season
Dry season
The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which oscillates from the northern to the southern tropics over the course of the year...
month where less than 60 mm of precipitation (on average) falls, the seaport has noticeably wetter and drier periods of the year. September–November is the driest period of the year, while February–April is the wettest time of the year. Average temperatures are relatively constant throughout the course of the year, though it is slightly cooler in the months of July and August, where average highs hover around 24 degrees Celsius and warmer in the months of January and February, where high temperatures on average reaches 30 degrees Celsius. Toamasina averages roughly 3,250 mm of precipitation annually.
External links
University of ToamasinaRegional Tourist information office - Toamasina Informations about events in Toamasina Regional Harbour of Toamasina web site of the Atsinanana Region