Andilamena

Andilamena
Andilamena Location in Madagascar
Coordinates: 17°1′S 48°35′E / 17.017°S 48.583°E
Country	Madagascar
Region	Alaotra-Mangoro
District	Andilamena
Elevation[1]	932 m (3,058 ft)
Population (2001)[2]
• Total	21,000
Time zone	EAT (UTC3)
Climate	Cwa

Andilamena is a town and commune (Malagasy: kaominina) in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Andilamena, which is a part of Alaotra-Mangoro Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 21,000 in 2001 commune census.^[2]

In addition to primary schooling the town offers secondary education at both junior and senior levels. The town provides access to hospital services to its citizens. The majority 65% of the population of the commune are farmers, while an additional 10% receives their livelihood from raising livestock. The most important crop is rice, while other important products are peanuts, maize and cassava. Industry and services provide employment for 1% and 24% of the population, respectively.^[2]

Main street in Andilamena

History

Andilamena, it is at this place, in October 2000, where an important ruby deposit was discovered. It caused a rush that definitely transformed this big rural village lost in the middle of nowhere. In 2002, a new sapphire deposit was discovered at a place called Andribabe. Some remarkable samples of royal blue color remind those of Burma. In November 2013 a new sapphire and ruby deposit was discovered at the place said Sahalava, 30 kilometers north of Andilamena.

External links

• Andilamena Sapphire and Ruby Discovery

References and notes

1. Estimated based on DEM data from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
2. "ILO census data". Cornell University. 2002. Retrieved 2008-03-06.

Coordinates: 17°1′S 48°35′E / 17.017°S 48.583°E