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Location and physical description |
Situated
in the province of Fianarantsoa, within the valley of Namorona, Ranomafana
is a small locality surrounded by mountainous massif covered of a
dense evergreen forest . The landscape is characteristic of the often
brutal tradition between the highland and the coastal fringe. The
dense hydrographic system comprises many small waterways , tributaries
of the Namorona with the deep valley upstream Ranomafana.
Jammed between the Betsileo and Tanala countries , Ranomafana owes
its name to a ferruginous spa . The site is the departure point of
many excursions in the National Park.
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The climate |
This
is a humid tropical climate type with annual rains of 2 600 mm .They
are generally drizzle form fine rains , especially during the cold
season. The dry season does not practically exist.
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The flora |
The
Classified forest of Ranomafana is Malagasy rain forest type of the
centre area , the forest exploitation selective type is still practiced,
except on the east part considered as primary forest due to its distance
from the major road . The planted with trees stratum is composed of
many Apocinaceae , Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae…. , and orchids
of Bulbophylum and Eulophyella genera. The Psidium cattleyarum Myrtaceae
is found in the vast secondary forest areas .
The National park has been created in 1991 to protect the two models
of evergreen forest , on the one hand the dense forest of low altitude
and on the other hand the mountain forest .
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The fauna |
Ranomafana
is an exceptional site endowed with badly known endemic fauna . Some
lemur species can be found there . A new lemur specie : the hapalemur
aureus, or the browned Hapalemur and the Hapalemur simus among the rarest
has been discover in 1987 near Ranomafana .. Nowaday , 4 sites are known
for the Hapalemur simus with a total of hundred of individuals , 3 of
these sites are situated near Ranomafana. Only one is known for the
Hapalemur aureus.
The extremly rich avifauna is very interesting : some rare species ,such
the Accipiter henstii, the unicolor Mesitornis , and many others as
the Xenopirostris polleni are well represented.
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