Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. Coordinates: approximately 19.95° S, 47.40° E.
It is the world's fourth-largest island, separated from Africa by the Mozambique Channel. Its long isolation fostered extraordinary biodiversity: over 90% of its wildlife (lemurs, chameleons, baobabs) is endemic.
Climate varies from tropical rainforest in the east to arid spiny forest in the south. The capital is Antananarivo.