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Tsingy of Bemaraha, Majunga Region
MADAGASCAR
With an area of 226,660 square miles (597,000 km2), Madagascar
is the fourth-largest island in the world. The western, most
arid part contains the strange mineral forest of Tsingy of
Bemeraha. This geological formation, called a karst, is the
result of erosion, as acid rains have gradually dissolved the
stone of the chalky plateau and carved out sharp ridges that
rise to heights of 65 to 95 feet (20 to 30 m). Human
penetration of the area has been difficult, which explains its
name, ’tsingy’, which is Malagasy for ’walking on tiptoe.’ The
site was declared a nature reserve in 1927 and a world
heritage site by UNESCO in 1990. Madagascar separated from the
continent of Africa more than 100 million years ago, and in
that time its vegetation and animal life have evolved in full
autonomy. This makes the island one of the most striking
examples of endemism, which is common to island environments:
more than 80 percent of the approximately 10,000 vegetal
species and nearly 1,200 animal species recorded are
indigenous to the island only; but nearly 200 Madagascan
species are endangered.
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