Marolambo is a village and commune (kaominina) located in the

Atsinanana Atsinanana is a coastal region in eastern Madagascar. It borders Analanjirofo region in the north, Alaotra-Mangoro in the west, Vakinankaratra and Amoron'i Mania in the southwest, and Vatovavy and Fitovinany in south. The region contains over 285 ...

region of eastern

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

. It is along the Nosivolo River near the junction with the Sandranamby River, and is also the capital of the

Marolambo District Marolambo is a district of Atsinanana in Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Ind ...

Overview

The town was founded by French colonialists, though their footprint was limited. It is the largest town on the Nosivolo River.(20 September 2010)
Nosivolo is designated as Madagascar's first riverine Ramsar site
''conservation.org'' The area is so remote that no automobiles were present in the town between 1972 and 2006, according to a 2010 report.(25 November 2010)
MADAGASCAR: New Livelihoods to Protect A River’s Life
''

Inter Press Service Inter Press Service (IPS) is a global news agency headquartered in Rome, Italy. Its main focus is news and analysis about social, political, civil, and economic subjects as it relates to the Global South, civil society and globalization. Hist ...

'' From the mid-1940s until the early 1970s it was possible to reach the village by car, but the road deteriorated from lack of maintenance. According to researcher Hilde Nielssen, who has done anthropology field work in the area, the lack of infrastructure and remoteness of the area makes it a relatively undesirable placement for outsiders such as government officials and medical workers. Nevertheless, Marolambo is still a local center for commerce, education, and health in the area, as it has a public and private high school, public and private hospital, and a few merchants. A small airstrip was built near the village by

Mission Aviation Fellowship Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is a Christian organization that provides aviation, communications, and learning technology services to more than 1,000 Christian and humanitarian agencies, as well as thousands of isolated missionaries and indi ...

(MAF) around 1993 by shearing off hilltops, though its dirt surface would suffer damage from erosion during the rainy season. Between 2007 and 2009, the airstrip was paved by MAF, who brings supplies to the area.Nielssen, Hilde
Ritual Imagination: A Study of Tromba Possession Among the Betsimisaraka in Eastern Madagascar
p. 20 (2012)Marolambo airstrip (photograph)
flickr.com, October 18, 2007Creating something of lasting value
''MAF News'' (December 2009-February 2010). The Nosivolo River is known for its biodiversity, and the endangered ''

Oxylapia polli ''Oxylapia'' is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae. It contains the single species ''Oxylapia polli'', known locally as the songatana. It is an endangered species, endemic to the Marolambo Rapids in the Nosivolo River (a tribu ...

'' (locally known as the songatana) fish species (among other rare species) is found in the Marolambo rapids near the village.

Nature

Marolambo National Park The Marolambo National Park covers a forested region of Eastern Madagascar, between Marolambo (region: Atsinanana), Antanifotsy (region: Vakinankaratra), Fandriana (region: Amoron'i Mania), Nosy Varika (Vatovavy), Ifanadiana (Vatovavy) and Ambos ...

Religion

* FJKM - Fiangonan'i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara (

Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar ( mg, Fiangonan'i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara; FJKM) is the second-largest Christian denomination in Madagascar. The current officers include the Rev. Ammi Irako Andriamahazosoa, President; the Rev. Jean ...

) * FLM - Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy (

Malagasy Lutheran Church The Malagasy Lutheran Church (in Malagasy it is known as FLM: ''Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy'') is one of the most important Christian churches in Madagascar, established in 1950 by the unification of 1,800 Lutheran congregations in central and so ...

) * Roman Catholic Church has got a mission since 1989.DISTRICT MISSIONNAIRE DE MAROLAMBO
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References

{{Atsinanana, state=expanded Populated places in Atsinanana