Antananarivo << `ahn` tuh `nah` nuh REE voh >> is the capital and largest city of Madagascar, which includes the island of Madagascar and small nearby islands. About 11/2 million people live in the city. Antananarivo, formerly called Tananarive, is near the center of the island of Madagascar. It lies on a mountain ridge that runs across the island from north to south. Railroads running along the ridge link Antananarivo with the rest of the island and bring crops to the city for processing.
Most people who live in Antananarivo are of Indonesian descent. They are members of the Merina and Betsileo ethnic groups. Some of Antananarivo’s residents are French. Madagascar was once a French colony. The French work with the local people in government, university education, and international trade. The University of Antananarivo and several scientific research institutes are in the city. Antananarivo’s most famous building is the palace of the last queen of Madagascar’s Merina kingdom. Built in the 1800’s, the palace was destroyed by fire in 1995. Restoration began on the building shortly after the fire.
