Madagascar is a big word for a big island. In fact, it is the fourth-largest island in the world, after Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo. It is actually so big that Taiwan could fit inside it about 17 times.
Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean, 400 kilometers east of Africa. Scientists believe the first people to make Madagascar their home arrived from Southeast Asia in boats over 1,200 years ago. Then, Bantu people from Africa came over, too. Later, the island was ruled by the Merina Kingdom and then became an overseasterritory of France in 1946. When the French left in 1960, Madagascar regainedits independence.
Presently, the culture of the island is a special mixture of African, Asian, and European influences from its past. Just like people in Asia, the people of Madagascar include rice in their meals. People there also raise cows like in many parts of Africa. The most popular religion on the island is Christianity, but many people practice the old traditions of their ancestors, too. Due to its colonialhistory, both French and Malagasyare the official languages and both are commonly spoken on the island.
