Antananarivo Editorial Photo

Antananarivo is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. It is also known by its French colonial shorthand form Tana. The larger urban area surrounding the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra (Antananarivo-Mother Hill or Antananarivo-Capital), is the capital of Analamanga Region. Antananarivo is situated in the center of the island length-wise, and 145 km away from the eastern coast. The city occupies a commanding position, being built on the summit and slopes of a long and narrow rocky ridge, which extends north and south for about 4 km and rises at its highest point to about 200 m above the extensive rice plain to the west, although the town is at about 1,275 m above sea level.