Ilakaka is a small town in Ihorombe Region in the south western part of Madagascar. In the early 1990s there were only about 40 residents in the area. After the discovery of one of Earth's largest known alluvial sapphire deposits in the valley of the Ilakaka river in 1998, the population had boomed to nearly 60,000 in 2005. Since high profits are at stake, violence is common in the town. [1]
Ilakaka is in Ihosy District, Ihorombe Region, 735 km south of Antananarivo, near Isalo National Park.
It is found along the Route nationale No.7 from Toliara (210 km) to Fianarantsoa (307 km) in southwestern Madagascar. It is situated at 210 km from Tuléar, 26 km from Ranohira and 84 km from Sakaraha. [2]
In 1998, after the discovery of an important sapphire mine, what was once a quiet rural village has been transformed into a Wild West town, a victim of "Sapphire fever," with thousands of arrivals hoping to stake a claim, complete with bars, brothels, and scores to settle. The fever has overrun the entire country and every day hundreds of people flow in from throughout the region.
The village has exploded with the incessant influx. As of 2008 the population was about 30,000 according to local authorities, but the number is highly approximate given the incessant turnover. All 18 ethnic groups of Madagascar are represented.
There is a mosque and a Church Rhema in Ilakaka.
Ilakaka belongs to the district of Ihosy, in the region of Ihorombe, in the province of Fianarantsoa.
Unofficial plots are pitted with wells, into which the miners descend to find a seam. The landscape has been remade by such operations.
The sheet metal shacks where the miners live have neither running water nor electricity, and there are very few paved roads.
The area is spotted with giant baobabs.
Fianarantsoa Province is a former province of Madagascar. It has an area of 103,272 km2 and population of 3,366,291. Its capital was Fianarantsoa. The province along with the 5 other was abolished in 2007 in favour of creation of smaller regions to facilitate administration.
Fianarantsoa is a city in south central Madagascar, and is the capital of Haute Matsiatra Region.
Ihosy is a city with 283,047 inhabitants (2015) in Ihorombe Region in central south Madagascar.
Zazafotsy is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was 14,062 in 2018.
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Ihorombe is a region in Madagascar. It borders Haute Matsiatra region in north, Atsimo-Atsinanana in east, Anosy in south and Atsimo-Andrefana in west. The capital is Ihosy and the population was 418,520 in 2018. The area of Ihorombe is 26,391 km2 (10,190 sq mi) and it has one of the lowest population densities of the Malagasy regions.
Tropic of Capricorn is a BBC television documentary series. It was aired on BBC Two in 2008 and showed presenter Simon Reeve travelling along the Tropic of Capricorn.
Andiolava is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 6,000 in 2001 commune census.
Mahasoa is a rural municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population was 24877 inhabitants in 2018.
Ranohira is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was 16,041 in 2018. The nearest towns are Ilakaka at 26 km and Ihosy 93 km distance.
Sahambano is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 6,000 in the 2001 commune census.
Sakalalina is a municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 7,000 in 2001 commune census.
Satrokala is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 10,000 in 2001 commune census.
Ihosy is a district in south-eastern Madagascar. It is a part of Ihorombe Region and borders the districts of Ikalamavony in north, Ambalavao in northeast, Ivohibe in east, Iakora in southeast, Betroka in south, Benenitra in southwest, Sakaraha and Ankazoabo Sud in west and Beroraha in the South West. The area is 17,358 km2 (6,702 sq mi) and the population was 292,880 in 2018.
Ivohibe is a district in south-eastern Madagascar. It is a part of Ihorombe Region and borders the districts of Ambalavao in north, Vondrozo in east, Midongy Sud in south, Iakora in southwest and Ihosy in west. The area is 4,119 km2 (1,590 sq mi) and the population was estimated to be 34,289 in 2001.
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Tolohomiady is a rural municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was 3,768 in 2018.
Andohan'ilakaka is a commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was 33,002 in 2018.
Antsoha is a municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ihosy, which is a part of Ihorombe Region. The population of the commune was 4,676 in 2018.
