Mantasoa

Mantasoa
from Carion to Mantasoa
Nickname:  Soatsimanampiovana
Mantasoa Location in Madagascar
Coordinates: 19°1′S 47°50′E
Country	Madagascar
Region	Analamanga
District	Manjakandriana
Area
• Total	106 km2 (41 sq mi)
Elevation	1,397 m (4,583 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	10,604
Time zone	UTC3 (EAT)

Mantasoa is a municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Manjakandriana, which is a part of Analamanga Region. The population of the commune was 10,604 in 2018.

Mantasoa is located at 70 km East of Antananarivo. 60 villages in 11 Fokontany (localities) are part of the commune.

In addition to primary schooling the town offers secondary education at both junior and senior levels. The majority 95.5% of the population of the commune are farmers, while an additional 0.5% receives their livelihood from raising livestock. The most important crop is rice, while other important products are beans, cassava and sweet potatoes. Services provide employment for 3% of the population. Additionally fishing employs 1% of the population.

History

Matasoa was one of the first industrial sites in Madagascar From 1837 onwards, the Frenchman Jean Laborde, in contract with the queen Ranavalona I, built up an industrial complex where 1,200 workmen produced cannons, rifles, bullets, swords, bricks, tiles, pottery, glass, porcelain, silk, soap, candles, sealing-wax, lime, cement, charcoal, ink, dyes, sugar, rum, sulphuric acid, and lightning conductors.

In present time its premises house the Lycée Jean Laborde and the technical lycée of Mantasoa. The site had been listed by Unesco as Heritage Site.

Rivers

• The Ikopa River and the Varahina, an affluent, cross the municipality.

Lakes

• Lake Mantasoa

See also

.Mantasoa Dam