|
 Antananarivo
formerly TANANARIVE, town and national
capital of Madagascar, central Madagascar island. It was founded in the
17th century and was the capital of the Hova chiefs. It stands on a high
hill. Avenues and flights of steps lead up to a rocky ridge (4,694 feet
[1,431 m]) on which stands the Royal Estate, with towered palaces built by
the Imerina kings who captured the town in 1794 and ruled until the end of
the 19th century. Below are banks and administrative buildings and lower
still the commercial quarter. Public buildings include the French
Residency and the Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals; and there are
research institutes, an observatory, and the Bibliothèque Nationale.
The University of Madagascar was founded there in 1961. Industries include
tobacco and food processing and the manufacture of leather goods and
clothing. Air transport is widely used, and the international airport at
Ivato is 11 miles (17 km) north of the city. A railway connects the
capital with Toamasina, the island's chief port, to the east, as well as
with Antsirabe to the south and Lake Alaotra to the north. Pop. (1990
est.) 802,390.
 The
culture is basically Indonesian. Arabic and Islamic contributions include
an intricate system of divination, or sikidy, and calendrical features,
such as the Arabic-derived names of the days of the week, which also apply
to the markets held on those days. The coastal areas of the west, north,
and south might be expected to show African cultural elements, but, apart
from some Bantu words, these are often difficult to identify conclusively.
|