Nosy Be
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nosy Be (also Nossi-bé) is an island located just off the northwest coast of Madagascar.
Nosy Be is Madagascar's largest and busiest tourist resort. Its population is 60 000[citation needed].
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[edit] City
The island is organized as The City of Nosy Be (Commune urbaine). Mayor: Mr Jaovita. It is in the Diana region and the Antsiranana Province.
[edit] Name
Nosy Be means "big island" in the Malagasy language. The island was called Assada during the early colonial era of the seventeenth century. Nosy Be has been given several nicknames over the centuries. The most relevant of those nicknames may be “Nosy Manitra” (the scented island).
[edit] Geography
The volcanic island has an area of about 300 km² (120 square miles), and reaches its highest peak at Mont Lokone at 450m (1476 feet). It is located about eight kilometers (5 miles) off the coast of Madagascar; several smaller islands are located nearby, including Nosy Komba, Nosy Mitsio, Nosy Sakatia, and Nosy Tanikely. The island's main town is Andoany.
Getting off the plane in Fascene Airport, you can smell the different types of trees like coffee, cocoa, vanilla, and cinnamon, which are intensively cultivated all over the island.
The geographic position of Nosy be is , and the Tsaratanana Massif protect the island from the very strong north-east winds that mostly blow in August or during the tropical depression period, and make it a tropical island that benefits from an exceptional climate, flora and fauna. The warm waters of the Mozambique Canal and the microclimate that determine seasons make Nosy Be a tourist tropical paradise. There are eleven volcanic lakes on the island. They constitute an enormous water reserve that may be used for human needs or cultivations. The banks and the waters of those lakes are covered with lush vegetation. In the daytime, many crocodiles hide under the vegetation. At night, they get out and go hunting.
Nosy Be's landscape is varied and it is characterized by a great many hills that are overlooked by Mount Lokone (450m) and Mount Passot (350). From these high vantage points, you have an exceptional view onto Nosy Be Bay, but also on the Radama Islands (south) and Mitsio Islands (north). The coast is very jagged and punctuated by a great many bays and gorgeous coves and also deserted beaches lined by palm trees. There are also many small islands and rocks that may constitute perfect refuges for tourists wanting to isolate themselves in total privacy.
Some of the fauna of Nosy Be are remarkable, two for their small size, the world's smallest frog (Stumpffia pygmaea) and chameleon (Brookesia minima).[1] The Lokobe Reserve is one of Madagascar's five Strict Nature Reserves (Réserves Naturelles Intégrales).
[edit] History
The first inhabitants of Nosy Be, before the arrival of the Sakalava, who represent the most numerous ethnic group on the island, belonged to small bands of Antankarana and Zafinofotsy. These people were joined later by some Comorians, Indians or Antandroy.
Nosy Be Island makes its first major appearance in the story of Madagascar's history when King Radama I announced that he intended to conquer the whole West of the red Island up to the sea.[citation needed] That plan was eventually achieved when the Sakalava Boena Kingdom came into his possession in 1837 when Queen Tsiomeko's army was defeated.
[edit] Climate
Temperatures are rather pleasant, except in summer (December, January, February), when night rainfalls combine with the day's heat and result in a tiresome humidity. During the same period, some places (generally along the east coast) can be stricken by cyclones. For the most part Nosy Be is not directly affected by bad weather, however, if other parts of Madagascar have bad weather then you will find very strong winds and daily rainfalls on Nosy Be. Tourist infrastructures remains insufficient but is under rapid development as many tourists, seeking a different holiday experience have started visiting Nosy Be.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Tim Flannery and Peter Schouten, Astonishing Animals: Extraordinary Creatures and the Fantastic Worlds They Inhabit. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2004. Page 126-127.
