Moramanga is a city (commune urbaine) 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 Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

. It is located in the region

Alaotra-Mangoro Alaotra-Mangoro is a region in eastern Madagascar. It borders Sofia Region in north, Analanjirofo in northeast, Atsinanana in east, Vakinankaratra in southwest, Analamanga in west and Betsiboka in northwest. The capital of the region is Ambatondra ...

and the

Moramanga District 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 ...

. It has a population of 57084 inhabitants (2018). It is situated between the capital

Antananarivo Antananarivo ( French: ''Tananarive'', ), also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana, is the capital and largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra ("Antananarivo-Mother Hill" or "An ...

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 This article is about the demographic features of the population of Madagascar, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Madagas ...

Geography

Moramanga is situated on a plateau between the central highlands and the east coast.

Transports

The national road RN 2 connects the city with

(115 km) and

Toamasina Toamasina (), meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French Tamatave, is the capital of the Atsinanana region on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated northeast of it ...

(254 km), the Route nationale 44 to

Ambatondrazaka Ambatondrazaka () is a city (commune urbaine) in Madagascar Ambatondrazaka is also the capital of the Alaotra-Mangoro region and the Ambatondrazaka District. Geography The city is situated south of Alaotra, the greatest lake in Madagascar. ...

(157 km),

Imerimandroso Imerimandroso is a town and commune ( mg, kaominina) in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ambatondrazaka, which is a part of Alaotra-Mangoro Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 11,000 in 2001 commune cen ...

and

Amboavory Amboavory is a town and commune ( mg, kaominina) in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Amparafaravola, which is a part of Alaotra-Mangoro Region. It is situated on the northern banks of Lake Alaotra. The population of the commune was 15,46 ...

. 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. *''Usine Militaire de Moramanga'': Near Moramanga (Ambohibary) is situated the only armament factory of Madagascar.

History

The city of Moramanga has an important place in the history of Madagascar. It was in Moramanga, on the night of the 29th of March 1947 that the

Malagasy Uprising The Malagasy Uprising (french: Insurrection malgache; mg, Tolom-bahoaka tamin' ny 1947) was a Malagasy nationalist rebellion against French colonial rule in Madagascar, lasting from March 1947 to February 1949. Starting in late 1945, Madagasca ...

against French colonial rule started.

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 Diocese of Moramanga Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

(Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). * FFPM - (

United Pentecostal Church of Madagascar United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two fi ...

) * Fiangonana Miara Manompo Moramanga * EEM Eklesia Episkopaly Malagasy (Anglican Church of Madagascar) * Eglise Rhema Terre de Sel

Education

Moramanga disposes of 167 primary schools, 17 secondary schools and 1

Lycée In France, secondary education is in two stages: * ''Collèges'' () cater for the first four years of secondary education from the ages of 11 to 15. * ''Lycées'' () provide a three-year course of further secondary education for children between ...

. Furthermore the superior school of the Gendarmerie (Ecole Supérieure de la Gendarmerie) is also situated at Moramanga.

Health

20 dispensaries and 1 hospital is found in the city. Furthermore 2 dentists.

Sports

AS Fanalamanga As, AS, A. S., A/S or similar may refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * A. S. Byatt (born 1936), English critic, novelist, poet and short story writer * As (song), "As" (song), by Stevie Wonder * , a Spanish sports newspaper * , an academic ...

, Moramanga (football)Ligue des Champions: sans faute pour 3 Clubs (in French)
/ref>

Wildlife

Protected areas near Moramanga are: *

Analamazoatra Reserve Analamazaotra National Park is a national park of Madagascar. The park is in the eastern portion of Madagascar's Central Highlands. The neighbouring Analamazaotra Forest Station is a local reforestation effort. It adjoins Andasibe-Mantadia Nati ...

east along NR2 *

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is a 155 square kilometre protected area, located about 150 km east of Antananarivo, consisting principally of primary growth forest in Alaotra-Mangoro Region in eastern Madagascar. The park's elevation range ...

northeast The

Peyrieras Reptile Reserve Madagascar Exotic (also known as the Peyrieras Butterfly Farm, Peyrieras Nature Farm and Mandraka Reptile Farm) is a small privately run reserve (or zoo) at Marozevo, on National Road N2, east of Antananarivo, between the towns of Manjakandriana a ...

(a butterfly farm and reptile center) is at Marozevo, west of Moramanga on National Route NR2.

References

Cities in Madagascar Populated places in Alaotra-Mangoro {{AlaotraMangoro-geo-stub