Formal Name: Republic of Madagascar.

Short Name: Madagascar.

Term for Citizens: Malagasy.

Capital: Antananarivo.

Date of Independence: June 26, 1960.

GEOGRAPHY

Size: 587,040 square kilometers.

Topography: East coast has lowlands leading to steep bluffs and central highlands Tsaratanana Massif in north with volcanic mountains west coast with many protected harbors and broad plains and southwest with plateau and desert region.

Climate: Two seasons: hot, rainy from November to April cooler, dry season from May to October southeastern trade winds dominate occasional cyclones.

Data as of August 1994