Fianarantsoa Province

Fianarantsoa Province

Fianarantsoa Province was one of the former provinces of Madagascar. It covered an area of 103,272 km² and had a population of about 3.4 million people as of July 2001. The capital city was Fianarantsoa, which means "Good education."

Other important towns in the province included Andohapatsakana, Alakamisy, Fianarantsoa, and Fanjakana. The province was home to four national parks: Ranomafana National Park, Midongy Du Sud, Isalo National Park, and Andringitra. In 2007, the province and five others were replaced by smaller regions to make governing easier. People often called Fianarantsoa Province simply "Fianar."

Geography and demographics

Fianarantsoa Province bordered Toamasina Province to the north, Antananarivo Province to the northwest, Toliara Province to the west, and the Indian Ocean to the east. Many people there spoke the southern Malagasy Betsimisaraka language.

Most people in Fianarantsoa Province lived in poverty. The area had environmental problems and farming challenges. The main groups of people there were Betsimisaraka, Betsileo, Antaisaka, and Bara, each living in different parts of the province.

Fauna

Many small mammals called shrews lived only in this area. These include Microgale cowani, Microgale gracilis, Microgale gymnorhyncha, Microgale longicaudata, Microgale principula, Microgale pusilla, Microgale taiva, and Microgale talazaci. Several snakes that lived here were also found only in this region.

Education

In the past, many people in this area could not read or write. Around 2002, about 1,200 schools had just been built but were not open yet. These schools were mostly built by the government. Not many students could continue their studies. To help more children learn, the government supported private schools by giving them money.

Abolition

The leader of this area was Fidy Mpanjato Rakotonarivo, beginning in 2005. In 2007, a vote led to changes. It created 22 smaller areas to help with development in the region.

Administrative divisions

Fianarantsoa Province was divided into five regions of Madagascar: Atsimo-Atsinanana, Amoron'i Mania, Haute Matsiatra, Ihorombe, and Vatovavy-Fitovinany. In 2009, these regions became the main administrative divisions. Each region had districts, with 23 districts in total.