Madagascar is the island country in the Indian Ocean whose capital is Antananarivo.
Madagascar occupies a large island off the southeastern coast of Africa, east of Mozambique, along with several smaller peripheral islands. Antananarivo, often shortened to Tana, is both the national capital and the country’s largest city. It stands in Madagascar’s Central Highlands, near the island’s interior rather than on the coast.
Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island and the second-largest island country. Its long geological isolation helped produce exceptional biodiversity: more than 90 percent of its wildlife is endemic, meaning it occurs naturally nowhere else. Lemurs, chameleons, and the distinctive baobab trees are among its best-known natural symbols.
The country is sometimes confused with Mauritius, Seychelles, or Comoros because all are Indian Ocean island nations. Madagascar is much larger and lies close to mainland Africa. Its population is culturally diverse, and both Malagasy and French are widely recognized as official languages.