Vakinankaratra

Vakinankaratra Region
—  Region  —
Location in Madagascar
Country  Madagascar
Capital Antsirabe
Area[1]
 • Total 16,599 km2 (6,408.9 sq mi)
Population (2004)[1]
 • Total 1,589,800
 • Density 95.8/km2 (248.1/sq mi)
 • Ethnicities Merina
Time zone EAT (UTC3)

Vakinankaratra is a region in central Madagascar. The capital of the region is Antsirabe and the current chief is Lantoniaina Rabenantoandro. Vakinankaratra had an estimated population of 1 589 800 in 2004.[1]

Contents

Geography

Vakinankaratra is situated in the central highlands of Madagascar. It borders the region of Bongolava in the northwest, Itasy in the north, Analamanga in the northeast, Alaotra Mangoro and Atsinanana in the east, Amoron'i Mania in the south, and Menabe to the west.

Administrative sub-division

The region is divided into six districts, namely Antsirabe I, Antsirabe II, Ambatolampy, Betafo, Antanifotsy, and Faratsiho, which are again divided into a total of 86 communes.

History

The kingdom of Vakinankaratra, known as the kingdom of the river Andrantsay, was founded at the beginning of the 17th century by Andrianony, a prince originally from Alasora, south of Antananarivo. The capital of the kingdom used to be Fivavahana in today's Betafo region.

The last ruler of the Kingdom of Andrantsay was Andriamanalinarivo who was on the throne when Imerina king Andrianampoinimerina conquered the area with the help of the young prince Radama at the beginning of the 19th century. The territory was integrated into the Merina Kingdom under the new name Vakinankaratra.

During the colonial period the centre of the region shifted to Antsirabe.

References

  1. ^ a b c Ralison, Eliane; Goossens, Frans. "Madagascar: Profil des marchés pour les évaluations d’urgence de la sécurité alimentaire" (in French) (PDF). Programme Alimentaire Mondial, Service de l’Evaluation des besoins d’urgence (ODAN). http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp086538.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-01. 

External links