Fianarantsoa
Fianarantsoa | |
|---|---|
 Upper town Fianarantsoa | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Fianarantsoa Location of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar | |
| Coordinates: 21°27′13″S 047°05′09″E / 21.45361°S 47.08583°E | |
| Country |  Madagascar |
| Province | Fianarantsoa |
| Region | Haute Matsiatra |
| District | Fianarantsoa |
| Founded | 1830 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 86.05 km2 (33.22 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) |
| Population (2013) | |
| • Total | 190,318 |
| • Density | 2,200/km2 (5,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | East African Time (GMT+3) |
| Climate | Cwb |
Fianarantsoa is a city (commune urbaine) in south central Madagascar, and is the capital of Haute Matsiatra Region.
History
Historical overview
It was built in the early 19th century by the Merina as the administrative capital for the newly conquered Betsileo kingdoms.
Fianarantsoa means "Good education" in Malagasy. It is a cultural and intellectual center for the whole island. It is home to some of the oldest Protestant and Lutheran cathedrals on the island, the oldest theological seminary (also Lutheran), as well as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa. The city of "good education" also boasts a university named after it and built in 1972. Fianarantsoa is considered to be the capital of wine in Madagascar, because of the presence of many wine industries in the city.
Recent history
Fianarantsoa has been known for its political activism and was one of the "hot spots" during the political crisis in 2002. Students of the University of Fianarantsoa have a reputation for sympathizing with radical leftist groups. The mayor of Fianarantsoa comes from the MFM political party whose colors are based on the anarcho-syndicalist flag.
Fianarantsoa was placed by the World Monuments Fund on its 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites because many of the buildings in the old town are in dire need of repair. Most of the repairs are relatively easy, and WMF hopes that the listing will attract attention to fund the necessary repairs to keep the old town looking beautiful.
 | This section needs to be updated. (August 2018) |
Geography
Overview
It is at an average altitude of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft), and has a population of 190,318 (2013 estimate).[1]
Climate
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as subtropical highland (Cwb).[2]
| Climate data for Fianarantsoa | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.2 (79.2) |
26.1 (79.0) |
25.3 (77.5) |
24.5 (76.1) |
22.6 (72.7) |
20.4 (68.7) |
19.7 (67.5) |
20.4 (68.7) |
23.0 (73.4) |
25.0 (77.0) |
26.1 (79.0) |
26.3 (79.3) |
23.8 (74.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 20.8 (69.4) |
20.8 (69.4) |
20.0 (68.0) |
18.9 (66.0) |
16.7 (62.1) |
14.5 (58.1) |
14.0 (57.2) |
14.4 (57.9) |
16.2 (61.2) |
18.3 (64.9) |
19.7 (67.5) |
20.4 (68.7) |
17.9 (64.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.2 (63.0) |
17.2 (63.0) |
16.5 (61.7) |
15.2 (59.4) |
12.7 (54.9) |
10.5 (50.9) |
10.1 (50.2) |
10.2 (50.4) |
11.2 (52.2) |
13.4 (56.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
16.6 (61.9) |
13.8 (56.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 227.8 (8.97) |
220.8 (8.69) |
137.6 (5.42) |
46.4 (1.83) |
27.3 (1.07) |
16.5 (0.65) |
24.6 (0.97) |
21.4 (0.84) |
18.0 (0.71) |
61.5 (2.42) |
124.9 (4.92) |
241.4 (9.50) |
1,168.2 (45.99) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 15 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 107 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 191.1 | 171.0 | 175.4 | 184.8 | 186.0 | 165.9 | 163.5 | 191.1 | 220.5 | 230.4 | 208.0 | 190.1 | 2,277.8 |
| Source: NOAA[3] | |||||||||||||
Transport
The city is at the endpoint of the Fianarantsoa-Côte Est Railway. There is also an airport.
Education
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2015) |
- Université de Fianarantsoa
French international schools:
Personalities
- Odon Razanakolona (b. 1946), archibishop
- Pety Rakotoniaina (b. 1962), politician
See also
References
- ^ Institut National de la Statistique, Antananarivo.
- ^ "Climate: Fianarantsoa - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^ "Fianarantsoa Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- ^ "Collège français René-Cassin." AEFE. Retrieved on May 7, 2015.
- ^ Home page (Archive). Collège français René-Cassin. Retrieved on May 7, 2015.
External links
Fianarantsoa travel guide from Wikivoyage
Capital: Fianarantsoa | ||
| Ambalavao (17) - 303 |  | |
| Ambohimahasoa (17) - 305 | ||
| Fianarantsoa (1) - 301 | ||
| Ikalamavony (8) - 314 | ||
| Isandra (13) - 314 | ||
| Lalangina (13) - 303 | ||
| Vohibato (15) - 305 | ||
Total: 7 districts; 84 communes | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
