Madagascar, or more formally Republic of Madagascar, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar.
It has 226,917 sq miles of land, compared with 88,787 sq miles of Great Britain.
The capital of Madagascar is called 'Antananarivo', a very elaborate name.
A popular animated film about four Zoo animals - Marty, Alex, Melman and Gloria - who are marooned on a tropical island with a tribe of musical leamers, is called 'Madagascar'. This is because the tropical island is the titular location.
Madagascar's long isolation from the neighboring continents has resulted in a unique mix of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world. The country is home to thousands of acres of forestland which has slowly been reduced to 10% of its original state since humans arrived around 2,000 years ago.
