Moramanga District

Moramanga
Moramanga market
Moramanga Location in Madagascar
Coordinates: 18°56′49″S 48°13′49″E
Country	Madagascar
Region	Alaotra-Mangoro
District	Moramanga
Area
• Land	9,396 km2 (3,628 sq mi)
Elevation	980 m (3,220 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	350,724
Climate	Cwa

Moramanga

Moramanga District is a district in the Alaotra-Mangoro region in Madagascar. Its capital is Moramanga.

It is situated between the capital Antananarivo 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.

People

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

Communes

The district is further divided into 22 communes:

• Ambatovola
• Amboasary Gara
• Ambohidronono
• Ampasipotsy Gare
• Ampasipotsy Mandialaza
• Andaingo
• Andasibe
• Anosibe Ifody
• Antanandava
• Antaniditra
• Beforona
• Belavabary
• Beparasy
• Fierenana
• Lakato
• Mandialaza
• Moramanga
• Moramanga Suburbaine
• Morarano Gare
• Sabotsy Anjiro
• Vodiriana

Transports

The national road RN 2 connects the city with Antananarivo (115 km) and Toamasina (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.

Wildlife

Protected areas near Moramanga are:

• Analamazoatra Reserve 31 km (19 mi) east along NR2
• Andasibe-Mantadia National Park 43 km (27 mi) northeast

The Peyrieras Reptile Reserve (a butterfly farm and reptile center) is at Marozevo, 40 km (25 mi) west of Moramanga on National Route NR2.

See also

• Railway stations in Madagascar