Madagascar . Madagascar by Steve Evans Madagascar lies in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa opposite the country of Mozambique. It's the world's fourth-largest island.  In 2010 the population of Madagascar was estimated at around 20 million, 85% of whom live on less than two dollars a day. The Malagasy people of Madagascar are of mixed Malaysian, Indonesian, Indian, African, and Arab ancestry. The island consists of pristine coastlines, mountainous rainforests and unforgiving deserts.  Approximately 80% of all plant and animal species found in Madagascar are found only on the island, including the lemur and six of the island's eight baobab tree species. Madagascar is well known for its spices: cloves, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, dill, anise, coffee, pepper, and many others. Seventy-five percent of the world's vanilla exports come from Madagascar. The island's distinctive ecology has led some ecologists to refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent". It's hot in the deserts of southern Madagascar, but the heat doesn't take away the joy of the children who live there. While clothes may be shed to keep cool, smiles are very much still in evidence. This elderly woman in a village of southern Madagascar has a flair for fashion, as seen by the pink adornment in her hair. Even though life is hard in the desert villages, people still maintain dignity. The towns in southern Madagascar have a "frontier" feel to them, but one seems always ready to stop for a family portrait! Food stalls along the roads are in abundance in all of Madagascar's towns cities, as seen here in the south- west costal town of Toliara. Life can be pretty boring and lonely for a young girl tasked with watching the good of her parent's souvenir stall in the coastal town of Tolaiara. An ethnic carving topped by the skeletal jaws of a shark can make for a pretty daunting souvenir from Madagascar! Old age, poor health, and extreme poverty can make life miserable for folks living in Madagascar's hot and dry southern region. Cattle are supreme in southern Madagascar, and cattle-driven carts can be seen in both in the villages and the towns of the region. Madagascar's people are a proud mix of Malaysian, Indonesian, Indian, African, and Arab ancestry, as seen in this little girl of southern Madagascar. The southeastern coast of Madagascar is considered "wild" coast, with constant winds and waves. Other coastal areas can be quite tropical. Rice is a predominant crop and staple in Madagascar. Here it is being cultivated in the country's southeastern coastal region. There are nearly 100 species of lemurs found on Madagascar, spread throughout the island. Lemurs are primates, and their name means sprit or ghost. Madagascar has a strong French influence, and French bakeries can be found across the island. Here is a vendor of French bread in the capital city of Antananarivo. As the world's fourth largest island, Madagascar features countless fishing villages, town and cities along its coasts.  This alcove near the southeast town of Fort Dauphin is a safe haven for its local fishermen. Bananas are one of the main cash crops of Madagascar's rainforests. There is constant foot traffic of those carry bunches of bananas on the trails of the mountainous villages leading to the towns below. Poverty does not negate ingenuity, as demonstrated by these children in the southwest coastal town of Toliara. Foreigners are often looked upon with curiosity and mistrust in Madagascar's isolated rainforests. Children of the rainforest are often curious and shy when foreigners show up at their isolated mountainous villages. Like father, like son, especially when it comes to transporting bunches of bananas the hard way - by hand! In most parts of Madagascar, women wash clothing where water is clean and abundant. This is not a problem in the rainforest regions of the country. Budding and established musicians on the island of Madagascar have to be inventive when it comes to the craft of their trade. It is not uncommon to see handmade guitars and drum sets being used in performances. While outlawed in many parts of the world, the hand- pulled rickshaw is still a common and affordable mode of public transportation in Madagascar. All of our advertising is certified by Google and therefore may be viewed safely.