Toamasina (Masc. "like salt"), often known as Tamatave, is a city (commune urbaine) in Madagascar. Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern
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Overview
Toamasina is the capital of the Atsinanana region and of the Toamasina Province. Atsinanana is a region in Toamasina Province of eastern Madagascar. Toamasina is a province of Madagascar with an area of 71911 km² President by special delegation of the city: Gervais Rakotomanana (since 30 May 2007). The former mayor, Roland Ratsiraka, was suspended after a decision in the municipal council earlier in 2007. Iarovana Roland Ratsiraka (born August 15 1966) is a Malagasy Politician.
It is the chief seaport of Madagascar, situated nearly on the centre of the eastern coast at 18 10 S, 49 32 E. ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern It has population of 179,045 (2001 census). Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.
It owes its importance to the existence of a coral reef, which forms a spacious and fairly commodious harbour, entered by two openings. Coral reefs are Aragonite structures produced by living organisms found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water The town is built on a sandy peninsula which projects at right angles from the general coast-line. On this are crowded together a considerable number of houses, with good shops and merchants offices in the main thoroughfares.
It has wide palm tree lined avenues and selection of hotels and restaurants. The beaches in this area are beautiful, although sharks and pollution prevent swimming. Bazary Be is one of its colorful street markets. Here you can buy everything from exotic spices to 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. The University of Toamasina ( Université de Toamasina is a Public university in Madagascar, in the city 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 from thence to Sri Lanka, by the British Union-Castle Line. 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 Mauritius (pronounced məˈrɪʃəs L’île Maurice /il mɔ'ʁis/ Mauritian Creole: Maurice) officially the Republic of Mauritius, République Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island The Union-Castle Line was a prominent Shipping line that operated a fleet of Passenger liners and Freighters between Europe and Africa
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. Bubonic plague is the best-known manifestation of the bacterial disease plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis (formerly known as 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 Tamatave with the capital. There is also a service, partly by railway and partly by steamer, along the coast lagoons, connecting the port with Antananarivo. Antananarivo (ˌtəˌnænəˈriːv or /ˌtəˌnɑːnəˈriːv/ is the Capital and largest city in Madagascar.
Transport
The town is the railhead for the line to the capital.
See also
Maps
External links
- (French) University of Toamasina
- (French) Chamber of Commerce and of Industry of toamasina
- (French) Regional Service of Tourism of Toamasina
- (French) Regional Harbour of Toamasina
- (French) web site of the Atsinanana Region
- Wikitravel guide to Toamasina
References
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