Antsirabe


Antsirabe is the third largest city in Madagascar and the capital of the Vakinankaratra region, with a population of 257,163 in 2014. In Madagascar, Antsirabe is known for its relatively cool climate, its industry and the high concentration of pulled rickshaws or pousse-pousse. It attracts around 30,000 tourists a year

Etymology and names

The Malagasy name Antsirabe literally means "the place of much salt".
The city has the nicknames ville d'eau and visy gasy or le Vichy malgache, referring to the presence of multiple thermal springs in the area.

History

The area where Antsirabe is found today was part of the Kingdom of Andrantsay which existed from the early 1600s until it was incorporated into the Imerina kingdom in the early 1800s. The area was a farming region, with production of rice, vegetables and fruit.
The first Norwegian missionaries arrived in 1868. Limestone and sulphur were exploited in the area at this time.
The city was founded by Norwegian missionary T.G. Rosaas in 1872 as a hill station to serve as a retreat centre because of the much cooler climate. The thermal baths were opened in 1917.
In 1886 the Norwegian mission established the leper hospital of Ambohipiantrana and it quickly developed into a village for lepers. The colonial government decided to make it the leper hospital of Vakinankaratra and the around 950 people with the illness lived there in 1904.
During the French colonial rule the centre of the Vakinankaratra region shifted from the Andrantsay capital of Fivavahana to Antsirabe.
In 1921 it succeeded Betafó as the seat of a Catholic Apostolic vicariate, and was promoted to a bishopric in 1955.

Population

Demographics

The population of Antsirabe was estimated at 238,478 in 2013.

Languages

The majority of the population belongs to the Merina ethnic group, which speaks a highland dialect of Malagasy. As in other urban areas of Madagascar, French is widely understood.

Places of worship

The places of worship, are predominantly Christian churches and temples; Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, Malagasy Lutheran Church, Assemblies of God, Association of Bible Baptist Churches in Madagascar, Roman Catholic Diocese of Antsirabe. There are also Muslim mosques.

Government

Antsirabe is an urban commune or municipality. The borders of the commune are identical with those of the Antsirabe I District. Antsirabe is also the capital of the Vakinankaratra region.
Since April 2012, the city is governed by a "Special Delegation" with three members: Razafindrainiony Lala Marie Béryl, the previous Head of Antsirabe I District is President of the Special Delegation while Randrianarison Olivier from the TIM party and Rakotomalala Olivier from the AS party are First and Second Deputy presidents, respectively.
Between November 2011 and April 2012 the position of the Mayor of Antsirabe was vacant. Olga Ramalason of the TIM party was Mayor until she was appointed Minister of Commerce in Omer Beriziky's government of consensus in November 2011.
The city council was elected in November 2003.

Architecture

Several buildings in central Antsirabe date back to the first decades of the 20th century. These include the thermal bath centre, Hôtel des Thermes, the railway station, and the residence for French retirees.
Other sights are la Stèle de l'Indépendance on Independence Avenue and the two public markets: Antsenakely and the bigger Asabotsy.

Geography and climate

Antsirabe is situated at an altitude of about, making its subtropical highland climate, similar to Brazilian high cities of the southeast. During the winter the temperature can fall below at night.
May to September form the coldest and driest part of the year with average monthly temperatures between and and an average number of days with precipitation per month of 1–2. From November to March the climate is warmer and wetter with on average 12 to 17 days with precipitation per month and average temperature of approximately. April and October have average temperatures of and respectively and 5–6 days of rain.
The Ankaratra volcanic field covers an area about 100 km long from Antsirabe northwards to Arivonimamo where highest peak reaches. This volcanic field is "the most prominent and volcanologically diverse on Madagascar". Several water-filled craters are found in the area around Antsirabe, including Lake Tritriva to the south-west. There are hot springs which are utilised by the Ranomafana thermal bath in the city.
The Mania River is south of Antsirabe.

Economy

An Export Processing Zone is located in Antsirabe and the town is the home of several factories, including Star Brasseries, Cotona and Kobama.
As in Antananarivo, international economic sanctions following the 2009 uprising and following political crisis led to an economic downturn and factory lay-offs in Antsirabe. The removal of Madagascar from the list of beneficiaries of the African Growth and Opportunity Act was particularly important in this regard.

Infrastructure

The city is at the end of the TA railway line, part of the Network North railway, which links Antsirabe to the capital and the port city of Toamasina. The line is operated by Madarail, currently only with freight trains. The line has been extended southwards through Vinaninkarena, but this extension is not in use.
National road 7 connects the city to Antananarivo in the north and to Fianarantsoa and Toliara to the south. Antsirabe is connected with Morondava on the west coast through RN34/35.
Public transport to and from Antsirabe are provided by taxi-brousses and buses. Most taxi-brousses operate from the main bus station in the north of the city.
Within the city public transport consists of small buses and numerous pulled rickshaws, as well as cycle rickshaw, auto rickshaw and private taxis. The pousse-pousse is something of an emblem of the city; 5600 of them were recorded in 2006.
There is also an airport.

Education

The Institute of Higher Education of Antsirabe Vakinankaratra is the regional branch of the University of Antananarivo. A regional centre for distance education of the Centre National de Télé-Enseignement de Madagascar is located in Antsirabe.
Collège français Jules-Verne, a French international school, is in the commune.

Twin cities

Antsirabe is twinned with:
Antsirabe has collaborations with: