Moramanga is a city (commune urbaine) in

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

. It is located in the region

Alaotra-Mangoro Alaotra-Mangoro is a region in eastern Madagascar. It borders Sofia Region in north, Analanjirofo in northeast, Atsinanana in east, Vakinankaratra in southwest, Analamanga in west and Betsiboka in northwest. The capital of the region is Amba ...

and the Moramanga District. It has a population of 57,084 inhabitants (2018). It is situated between the capital

Antananarivo Antananarivo (Malagasy language, Malagasy: ; French language, French: ''Tananarive'', ), also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana (), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known ...

and the east coast on the crossroad of RN 2 and RN 44. The name of Moranmanga originates from the slave trade. To differ them from other social classes, they were dressed in blue or ''manga''. As they were among the cheapest (''mora'') in Africa, it became Moramanga. MoramangaDenkmal

People

Moramanga is also the capital city of the Bezanozano people (one of the eighteen Ethnic groups of Madagascar).

Geography

Moramanga is situated on a plateau between the central highlands and the east coast.

Transports

The national road RN 2 connects the city with

(115 km) and

Toamasina Toamasina (), meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French language, French Tamatave or in the past as Port aux prunes, is the capital of the Atsinanana region on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief ...

(254 km), the Route nationale 44 to Ambatondrazaka (157 km), Imerimandroso and Amboavory. The city is at the TCE (Tananarive-Côte Est) and the south end of the MLA (Moramanga-Lac Alaotra) railways, so it's the only railway junction in Madagascar (except for the capital).

Economy

*The nickel and cobalt mine of Ambatovy is situated near this town. *''Usine Militaire de Moramanga'': Near Moramanga (Ambohibary) is situated the only armament factory of Madagascar.

History

The city of Moramanga has an important place in the history of Madagascar. It was in Moramanga, on the night of the 29th of March 1947 that the Malagasy Uprising against French colonial rule started.

Sights

The Memorial dedicated to the victims of the Malagasy Uprising with many graves and wall paintings is worth a visit. The ''Musée de la Gendarmerie'' is in the city centre.

Religion

* FJKM - Fiangonan'i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara ( Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar) * FLM - Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy ( Malagasy Lutheran Church) * Roman Catholic Diocese of Moramanga (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). * FFPM - ( United Pentecostal Church of Madagascar) * Fiangonana Miara Manompo Moramanga * EEM Eklesia Episkopaly Malagasy (Anglican Church of Madagascar) * Eglise Rhema Terre de Sel

Education

Moramanga disposes of 167 primary schools, 17 secondary schools and 1

Lycée In France, secondary education is in two stages: * ''Collèges'' () cater for the first four years of secondary education from the ages of 11 to 14. * ''Lycées'' () provide a three-year course of further secondary education for students between ...

. Furthermore the superior school of the Gendarmerie (Ecole Supérieure de la Gendarmerie) is also situated at Moramanga.

Health

20 dispensaries and 1 hospital is found in the city. Furthermore 2 dentists.

Sports

* AS Fanalamanga, Moramanga (football and basketball)Ligue des Champions: sans faute pour 3 Clubs (in French)
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Wildlife

Protected areas near Moramanga are: * Analamazoatra Reserve east along NR2 * Andasibe-Mantadia National Park northeast The Peyrieras Reptile Reserve (a butterfly farm and reptile center) is at Marozevo, west of Moramanga on National Route NR2.

References

Cities in Madagascar Populated places in Alaotra-Mangoro {{AlaotraMangoro-geo-stub