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Coordinates: 23°21′S 43°40′E / 23.350°S 43.667°E / -23.350; 43.667
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Adding reference, L'Express de Madagascar clearly states that Ferber Enterprises is the largest company in the city.
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|motto =
|motto =
<!-- images and maps ----------->
<!-- images and maps ----------->
|image_skyline = City Centre Toliara 2007.jpg
|image_skyline = ToliaraBd.Galliéni1.jpg
|imagesize =
|imagesize =
|image_caption = The city centre of Toliara (Tuléar) as of 2007.
|image_caption = Boulevard Galliéni
|image_flag =
|image_flag =
|flag_size =
|flag_size =
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|p2 = <!-- etc. up to p50: for separate parts to be listed-->
|p2 = <!-- etc. up to p50: for separate parts to be listed-->
<!-- Politics ----------------->
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes = <ref>[https://www.lexpress.mg/2023/12/prevention-des-catastrophes-atsimo.html PRÉVENTION DES CATASTROPHES - Atsimo-Andrefana se prépare]</ref>
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_title = Prefect
|leader_name =
|leader_name = Lydore Solondraza
|leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1 =
|leader_name1 =
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Toliara has seen a population boom over the last two decades, due to a rural exodus that has brought over 200,000 citizens into urban centers in the region.
Toliara has seen a population boom over the last two decades, due to a rural exodus that has brought over 200,000 citizens into urban centers in the region.


The [[Vezo]], nomadic fishermen, are the indigenous ethnic group. Today they are being dominated by migrants from the South (Mahafale, Masikoro, Antandroy) which make up more than half of the urban population. To these are added migrants from other urban regions, occupying positions in government and the private sector.
The [[Vezo]], nomadic fishermen, are the indigenous ethnic group. Today they are being dominated by migrants from the South ([[Mahafaly|Mahafale]], [[Masikoro]], [[Antandroy]]) which make up more than half of the urban population. To these are added migrants from other urban regions, occupying positions in government and the private sector.


=== Religion ===
=== Religion ===
Line 124: Line 124:
== Culture and sights ==
== Culture and sights ==
[[Image:Ifaty beach Madagascar.jpg|thumb|right|Ifaty beach near Toliara]]
[[Image:Ifaty beach Madagascar.jpg|thumb|right|Ifaty beach near Toliara]]
[[File:ToliaraBd.Wappen1.jpg|thumb|Boulevard Galliéni with the arms of Toliara]]
[[File:ToliaraMuseumCeratom1.jpg|thumb|Cedratom Museum]]
[[File:Toliara Hôtel de ville.jpg|thumb|City Hall]]
Regional cultural highlights include:
Regional cultural highlights include:
* The Ifaty beach near Tulear is famous for its water and sands.
* The Ifaty beach near Tulear is famous for its water and sands.
* The Museum of Arts and Traditions of the South of Madagascar (in Cedratom) presents the life, crafts and funerary art of the people in the area.
* The Museum of Arts and Traditions of the South of Madagascar (in Cedratom) presents the life, crafts and funerary art of the people in the area.
* The Recycling Museum (Musée du recyclage) is an art gallery dedicated to art made from recycled materials.
* The Regional Museum of the University of Toliara: this museum has a small ethnological collection and a huge egg of Aepyornis.
* The Regional Museum of the University of Toliara: this museum has a small ethnological collection and a huge egg of Aepyornis.
* The Museum of the Sea, founded by Professor Rabesandratana, is hosted by the Oceanographic Institute and covers the local aquatic flora and fauna, including a coelacanth caught in 1995 near Anakao.
* The Museum of the Sea, founded by Professor Rabesandratana, is hosted by the Oceanographic Institute and covers the local aquatic flora and fauna, including a coelacanth caught in 1995 near Anakao.
* Boulevard Galliéni, the most representative street of Toliara, with several monuments, Main Post Office, Institute of Pedagogics, City Hall, various banks, shops and restaurants. One of the most important monuments is dedicated to [[Monja Jaona]], a politician and former mayor ofToliara.
⚫
* The [[Antsokay Arboretum]]: Established in 1980 at the initiative of the Swiss amateur botanist Petignat Hermann (1923-2000). This arboretum covers an area of 52 hectares, with more than 920 plant species, lemurs, radiated tortoises, snakes and chameleons.
* Cathédrale Saint Vincent de Paul, a Roman Catholic cathedral, is the centre of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toliara]].
⚫
* A locally known shell market, on the waterfront, behind the French Alliance, sells shells and various handicraft products.
* Katedraly Loterana, a protestant cathedral with two towers.
* Fiangonana Rasalama Maritiora is a modern protestant church named after [[Rafaravavy Rasalama]] (1810–1837), the first christian martyr of Madagascar.
⚫
* The [[Antsokay Arboretum]]: Established in 1980 at the initiative of the Swiss amateur botanist Petignat Hermann (1923–2000). This arboretum covers an area of 52 hectares, with more than 920 plant species, lemurs, radiated tortoises, snakes and chameleons.
⚫
* A locally known shell market, on the waterfront, behind the French Alliance, sells shells and various handicraft products. It is also known for the breeding of the dog Coton de Telear


=== Education ===
=== Education ===
Line 140: Line 148:


=== Slogans ===
=== Slogans ===
* Fiherena no maha-Toliara "the [[ Fiherenana River]] is the soul of Toliara"
* Fiherena no maha-Toliara, "the [[ Fiherenana River]] is the soul of Toliara"
* Toliara tsy miroro "Toliara never sleeps"
* Toliara tsy miroro, "Toliara never sleeps"


== Economy and production ==
== Economy and production ==
[[Image:Ferber Enterprises Madagascar office.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ferber Enterprises]] office in Toliara<ref>"[https://www.ferberenterprises.com/post/ferber-enterprises-madagascar-opens-new-modern-office-in-sanfily-tulear Ferber Enterprises Open a New Office]." Ferber Enterprises.</ref>]]
The port played a key role during the "boom corn" years in the 1980s and 90s. Today, the arrival of migrants contributing to agricultural production (maize, cassava and rice) and livestock (cattle and goats) supplying the city markets with food, has contributed to the development of small informal businesses: particularly among the Mahafale and Masikoro communities. The city specializes in the import and export of various products including sisal, cotton, rice, peanuts and soap. Production of sea salt thrives, from salt marshes and landscaped places in coastal areas.
The port played a key role during the "boom corn" years in the 1980s and 90s. Today, the arrival of migrants contributing to agricultural production (maize, cassava and rice) and livestock (cattle and goats) supplying the city markets with food, has contributed to the development of small informal businesses: particularly among the Mahafale and Masikoro communities. The city specializes in the import and export of various products including sisal, cotton, rice, peanuts and soap. Production of sea salt thrives, from salt marshes and landscaped places in coastal areas.


Line 150: Line 157:
The sea floor is rich in minerals gemstones (about 200&nbsp;km to the north lies the Ilakaka sapphire deposit has operated since 1999) and ground salt.
The sea floor is rich in minerals gemstones (about 200&nbsp;km to the north lies the Ilakaka sapphire deposit has operated since 1999) and ground salt.
More recently, Canadian companies begin operation of the ilmenite in the region of Tolanaro.
More recently, Canadian companies begin operation of the ilmenite in the region of Tolanaro.
Beyond this mining and production, the industrial sector has declined in recent decades,
Beyond this mining and production, the industrial sector has declined in recent decades.


Tourism is a promising sector, thanks to the climate and natural assets of the hinterland ([[Ifaty]], [[Anakao]], [[Saint Augustin, Madagascar|Saint Augustin]]). Calm shallow seas and shallow support scuba diving, and Toliara remains a main destination for tours to southern Madagascar.
Tourism is a promising sector, thanks to the climate and natural assets of the hinterland ([[Ifaty]], [[Anakao]], [[Saint Augustin, Madagascar|Saint Augustin]]). Calm shallow seas and shallow support scuba diving, and Toliara remains a main destination for tours to southern Madagascar.


The Toliara Sands project, renamed [[Base Toliara]], seeks to exploit [[Ilmenite|ilmenite]] but encounters strong opposition despite an investment of 700 million dollars. As of 2023, the largest company in the city is [[Ferber Enterprises]], operating in [[E-commerce|e-commerce]].<ref>"[https://lexpress.mg/01/09/2023/ferber-enterprises-madagascar-une-filiale-florissante-a-lambition-sans-limites]"</ref>
The Toliara Sands project, renamed [[Base Toliara]], seeks to exploit [[Ilmenite|ilmenite]] but encounters strong opposition despite an investment of 700 million dollars.


== Geography and climate ==
== Geography and climate ==
Toliara is located on a broad coastal plain, surrounded by dunes and mangroves, near the Tropic of Capricorn in the Mozambique Channel. A nearby barrier reef (the Great Reef) is 18&nbsp;km long and 3&nbsp;km wide. The beach area is extended by an underwater beach along the continental shelf that slopes gently seaward. To the north lies the Delta Fiherenana.
Toliara is located on a broad coastal plain, surrounded by dunes and mangroves, near the Tropic of Capricorn in the Mozambique Channel. A nearby barrier reef (the Great Reef) is 18&nbsp;km long and 3&nbsp;km wide. The beach area is extended by an underwater beach along the continental shelf that slopes gently seaward. To the north lies the Delta Fiherenana.


Toliara is nicknamed the "City of the Sun" because it has a hot climate (24.3&nbsp;°C average) and is [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSh''), with less than 400&nbsp;mm annual rainfall. The city is constantly swept by a strong prevailing wind, the Tsio Katimo ("South Wind"). <!-- which blows north-south-east-west. -->
Toliara is nicknamed the "City of the Sun" because it has a hot climate (25.3&nbsp;°C average) which is [[Desert climate|arid]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BWh''), with less than 400&nbsp;mm annual rainfall. The city is constantly swept by a strong prevailing wind, the Tsio Katimo ("South Wind"). <!-- which blows north-south-east-west. -->


{{Weather box
{{Weather box
|location = Toliara (Tulear), Madagascar (1961–1990, extremes 1951–present)
|location = Toliara (1991–2020, extremes 1951–present)
|single line = yes
|single line = yes
|metric first = yes
|metric first = yes
|temperature colour =
|temperature colour =
|Jan record high C = 42.3
|Jan record high C = 39.7
|Feb record high C = 39.0
|Feb record high C = 39.0
|Mar record high C = 39.7
|Mar record high C = 39.7
Line 172: Line 179:
|May record high C = 37.4
|May record high C = 37.4
|Jun record high C = 35.7
|Jun record high C = 35.7
|Jul record high C = 34.5
|Jul record high C = 35.0
|Aug record high C = 37.5
|Aug record high C = 37.5
|Sep record high C = 37.5
|Sep record high C = 38.0
|Oct record high C = 39.5
|Oct record high C = 39.5
|Nov record high C = 37.7
|Nov record high C = 38.0
|Dec record high C = 38.7
|Dec record high C = 39.0
|year record high C = 42.3
|year record high C = 42.3
|Jan high C = 32.2
|Jan high C = 32.9
|Feb high C = 32.3
|Feb high C = 32.9
|Mar high C = 32.0
|Mar high C = 32.8
|Apr high C = 30.6
|Apr high C = 31.6
|May high C = 28.6
|May high C = 29.8
|Jun high C = 26.9
|Jun high C = 28.2
|Jul high C = 26.8
|Jul high C = 27.8
|Aug high C = 27.7
|Aug high C = 28.5
|Sep high C = 28.5
|Sep high C = 29.7
|Oct high C = 29.3
|Oct high C = 30.7
|Nov high C = 30.3
|Nov high C = 31.8
|Dec high C = 31.3
|Dec high C = 32.4
|year high C = 29.8
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 27.5
|Jan mean C = 28.3
|Feb mean C = 27.5
|Feb mean C = 28.3
|Mar mean C = 26.8
|Mar mean C = 27.8
|Apr mean C = 25.0
|Apr mean C = 26.1
|May mean C = 22.7
|May mean C = 23.9
|Jun mean C = 20.7
|Jun mean C = 22.1
|Jul mean C = 20.3
|Jul mean C = 21.5
|Aug mean C = 21.0
|Aug mean C = 22.3
|Sep mean C = 22.3
|Sep mean C = 23.5
|Oct mean C = 23.9
|Oct mean C = 25.2
|Nov mean C = 25.3
|Nov mean C = 26.7
|Dec mean C = 26.6
|Dec mean C = 27.8
|year mean C = 24.1
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = 22.9
|Jan low C = 23.7
|Feb low C = 22.9
|Feb low C = 23.6
|Mar low C = 21.9
|Mar low C = 22.8
|Apr low C = 19.9
|Apr low C = 20.6
|May low C = 16.9
|May low C = 17.9
|Jun low C = 14.8
|Jun low C = 15.9
|Jul low C = 14.4
|Jul low C = 15.1
|Aug low C = 14.8
|Aug low C = 15.9
|Sep low C = 16.2
|Sep low C = 17.3
|Oct low C = 18.5
|Oct low C = 19.7
|Nov low C = 20.3
|Nov low C = 21.6
|Dec low C = 22.1
|Dec low C = 23.1
|year low C = 18.8
|year low C =
|Jan record low C = 14.6
|Jan record low C = 14.6
|Feb record low C = 15.0
|Feb record low C = 15.0
Line 223: Line 230:
|Apr record low C = 10.0
|Apr record low C = 10.0
|May record low C = 10.2
|May record low C = 10.2
|Jun record low C = 4.2
|Jun record low C = 9.8
|Jul record low C = 8.4
|Jul record low C = 8.6
|Aug record low C = 10.0
|Aug record low C = 10.0
|Sep record low C = 9.0
|Sep record low C = 10.5
|Oct record low C = 11.8
|Oct record low C = 11.8
|Nov record low C = 14.0
|Nov record low C = 14.0
|Dec record low C = 17.0
|Dec record low C = 17.0
|year record low C = 4.2
|year record low C =
|rain colour = green
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 94.7
|Jan precipitation mm = 126.5
|Feb rain mm = 88.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 89.8
|Mar rain mm = 35.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 41.4
|Apr rain mm = 17.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 10.1
|May rain mm = 15.8
|May precipitation mm = 12.5
|Jun rain mm = 14.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 7.6
|Jul rain mm = 6.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 4.3
|Aug rain mm = 5.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 3.7
|Sep rain mm = 7.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 4.7
|Oct rain mm = 11.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 8.8
|Nov rain mm = 21.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 14.8
|Dec rain mm = 97.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 35.3
|year rain mm = 417.9
|year precipitation mm =
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 6
|Jan precipitation days = 7.2
|Feb rain days = 6
|Feb precipitation days = 6.2
|Mar rain days = 3
|Mar precipitation days = 3.3
|Apr rain days = 2
|Apr precipitation days = 1.2
|May rain days = 2
|May precipitation days = 1.4
|Jun rain days = 2
|Jun precipitation days = 1.2
|Jul rain days = 1
|Jul precipitation days = 0.8
|Aug rain days = 1
|Aug precipitation days = 0.7
|Sep rain days = 1
|Sep precipitation days = 0.7
|Oct rain days = 1
|Oct precipitation days = 1.1
|Nov rain days = 2
|Nov precipitation days = 1.9
|Dec rain days = 5
|Dec precipitation days = 3.9
|year rain days = 32
|year precipitation days =
|Jan humidity = 77
|Jan humidity = 77
|Feb humidity = 77
|Feb humidity = 77
Line 285: Line 292:
|Dec sun = 300.6
|Dec sun = 300.6
|year sun = 3597.0
|year sun = 3597.0
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
|source 1 = NOAA (sun, 1961-1990)<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MG/67161.TXT
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MG/67161.TXT
| title = Tulear/Toliara Climate Normals 1961–1990
| title = Tulear/Toliara Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = October 19, 2015}}</ref>
| access-date = October 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230923234825/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Madagascar/CSV/TOLIARA_67161.csv
| archive-date = 23 September 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Madagascar/CSV/TOLIARA_67161.csv
| title = Toliara Climate Normals 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 23 September 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity, 1951–1980),<ref name = DWD>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity, 1951–1980),<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
{{cite web
Line 309: Line 323:
The colonial legacy is still visible in the architecture and the urban landscape. Major road works and development were undertaken in 2003 to promote the development of the city.
The colonial legacy is still visible in the architecture and the urban landscape. Major road works and development were undertaken in 2003 to promote the development of the city.


The University Hospital Centre [[CHU Mitsinjo Betanimena]] is located near the city center in the district of Tanambao. Another private health facility, St. Luke's Clinic, is located in the district of Sanfily on the road to the airport.
The University Hospital Centre [[CHU Mitsinjo Betanimena]] is located near the city center in the district of Tanambao. Another private health facility, St. Luke's Clinic, is located in the district of Sanfily on the road to the airport.


=== Transport ===
=== Transport ===
There is an [[Toliara Airport|airport]].
[[Toliara Airport]] is located in the city.
[[Air Madagascar]] operates scheduled flights to here.
[[Air Madagascar]] operates scheduled flights to here.


Line 327: Line 341:
== References ==
== References ==
{{wikivoyage|Toliara}}
{{wikivoyage|Toliara}}
{{commons|Toliara}}
{{commons}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


Latest revision as of 02:39, 14 November 2024

Toliara
Tuléar
Toliary
Boulevard Galliéni
Boulevard Galliéni
Toliara is located in Madagascar
Toliara
Toliara
Location of Toliara in Madagascar
Coordinates: 23°21′S 43°40′E / 23.350°S 43.667°E / -23.350; 43.667
Country Madagascar
RegionAtsimo-Andrefana
Government
[1]
 • PrefectLydore Solondraza
Area
 • Total
32.1 km2 (12.4 sq mi)
Population
 (2018 census)
 • Total
168,756
 • Density5,300/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
Postal code
601

Toliara (also known as Toliary, [tuliˈar]; formerly Tuléar) is a city in Madagascar.

It is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region, located 936 km southwest of national capital Antananarivo.

The current spelling of the name was adopted in the 1970s, reflecting the orthography of the Malagasy language. Many geographic place names, assigned French spellings during the colonial period, were altered following Malagasy independence in 1960.

The city has a population of 168,758 in 2018.[2] As a port town it acts as a major import/export hub for commodities such as sisal, soap, hemp, cotton, rice and peanuts.

History

[edit]

In the 17th century, French buccaneers landed in the bay of St. Augustine near the Tropic of Capricorn, and founded the city to maintain commercial relations. It was not until the colonial period, after 1897, when the city really grew: with the efforts of Joseph Gallieni to install French administrative services, previously isolated on the island of Nosy Ve, to form the regional capital. Tulear grew along a grid pattern of cross streets, with wide avenues and public monuments.

Population

[edit]

Toliara has seen a population boom over the last two decades, due to a rural exodus that has brought over 200,000 citizens into urban centers in the region.

The Vezo, nomadic fishermen, are the indigenous ethnic group. Today they are being dominated by migrants from the South (Mahafale, Masikoro, Antandroy) which make up more than half of the urban population. To these are added migrants from other urban regions, occupying positions in government and the private sector.

Religion

[edit]

Toliara's cathedral is the archiepiscopal seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toliara, one of five in the country, originally the Diocese of Tuléar since 1957, renamed with the city in 1989, promoted in 2003 to Metropolitan archbishopric.

Culture and sights

[edit]
Ifaty beach near Toliara
Boulevard Galliéni with the arms of Toliara
Cedratom Museum
City Hall

Regional cultural highlights include:

  • The Ifaty beach near Tulear is famous for its water and sands.
  • The Museum of Arts and Traditions of the South of Madagascar (in Cedratom) presents the life, crafts and funerary art of the people in the area.
  • The Recycling Museum (Musée du recyclage) is an art gallery dedicated to art made from recycled materials.
  • The Regional Museum of the University of Toliara: this museum has a small ethnological collection and a huge egg of Aepyornis.
  • The Museum of the Sea, founded by Professor Rabesandratana, is hosted by the Oceanographic Institute and covers the local aquatic flora and fauna, including a coelacanth caught in 1995 near Anakao.
  • Boulevard Galliéni, the most representative street of Toliara, with several monuments, Main Post Office, Institute of Pedagogics, City Hall, various banks, shops and restaurants. One of the most important monuments is dedicated to Monja Jaona, a politician and former mayor ofToliara.
  • Cathédrale Saint Vincent de Paul, a Roman Catholic cathedral, is the centre of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toliara.
  • Katedraly Loterana, a protestant cathedral with two towers.
  • Fiangonana Rasalama Maritiora is a modern protestant church named after Rafaravavy Rasalama (1810–1837), the first christian martyr of Madagascar.
  • The Antsokay Arboretum: Established in 1980 at the initiative of the Swiss amateur botanist Petignat Hermann (1923–2000). This arboretum covers an area of 52 hectares, with more than 920 plant species, lemurs, radiated tortoises, snakes and chameleons.
  • A locally known shell market, on the waterfront, behind the French Alliance, sells shells and various handicraft products. It is also known for the breeding of the dog Coton de Telear

Education

[edit]

The University of Toliara is historically the oldest center for higher education, founded in 1971 after the decentralization of the University of Madagascar center. The university campus is located in Maninday 5 km east of the city, and teaches Humanities and Social Science, Science, Philosophy, and Management.

The Fisheries and Marine Sciences Institute (IHSM) welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, and offers advanced training in fisheries, aquaculture, and the marine and coastal environment.

Toliara has a Technical School and two grammar schools (Lycée Laurent Botokeky and Antaninarenina High School), private and religious schools such as Sacred Heart College, Tsianaloke Mahavatse, and the School of Notre Dame, and a French international school, Collège Etienne de Flacourt, which serves école primaire (primary school) and collège.[3]

Slogans

[edit]
  • Fiherena no maha-Toliara, "the Fiherenana River is the soul of Toliara"
  • Toliara tsy miroro, "Toliara never sleeps"

Economy and production

[edit]

The port played a key role during the "boom corn" years in the 1980s and 90s. Today, the arrival of migrants contributing to agricultural production (maize, cassava and rice) and livestock (cattle and goats) supplying the city markets with food, has contributed to the development of small informal businesses: particularly among the Mahafale and Masikoro communities. The city specializes in the import and export of various products including sisal, cotton, rice, peanuts and soap. Production of sea salt thrives, from salt marshes and landscaped places in coastal areas.

The Bay of Toliara houses one of Madagascar's oil exploration sites. The sea floor is rich in minerals gemstones (about 200 km to the north lies the Ilakaka sapphire deposit has operated since 1999) and ground salt. More recently, Canadian companies begin operation of the ilmenite in the region of Tolanaro. Beyond this mining and production, the industrial sector has declined in recent decades.

Tourism is a promising sector, thanks to the climate and natural assets of the hinterland (Ifaty, Anakao, Saint Augustin). Calm shallow seas and shallow support scuba diving, and Toliara remains a main destination for tours to southern Madagascar.

The Toliara Sands project, renamed Base Toliara, seeks to exploit ilmenite but encounters strong opposition despite an investment of 700 million dollars.

Geography and climate

[edit]

Toliara is located on a broad coastal plain, surrounded by dunes and mangroves, near the Tropic of Capricorn in the Mozambique Channel. A nearby barrier reef (the Great Reef) is 18 km long and 3 km wide. The beach area is extended by an underwater beach along the continental shelf that slopes gently seaward. To the north lies the Delta Fiherenana.

Toliara is nicknamed the "City of the Sun" because it has a hot climate (25.3 °C average) which is arid (Köppen BWh), with less than 400 mm annual rainfall. The city is constantly swept by a strong prevailing wind, the Tsio Katimo ("South Wind").

Climate data for Toliara (1991–2020, extremes 1951–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 39.7
(103.5) 		39.0
(102.2) 		39.7
(103.5) 		38.5
(101.3) 		37.4
(99.3) 		35.7
(96.3) 		35.0
(95.0) 		37.5
(99.5) 		38.0
(100.4) 		39.5
(103.1) 		38.0
(100.4) 		39.0
(102.2) 		42.3
(108.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 32.9
(91.2) 		32.9
(91.2) 		32.8
(91.0) 		31.6
(88.9) 		29.8
(85.6) 		28.2
(82.8) 		27.8
(82.0) 		28.5
(83.3) 		29.7
(85.5) 		30.7
(87.3) 		31.8
(89.2) 		32.4
(90.3) 		30.8
(87.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 28.3
(82.9) 		28.3
(82.9) 		27.8
(82.0) 		26.1
(79.0) 		23.9
(75.0) 		22.1
(71.8) 		21.5
(70.7) 		22.3
(72.1) 		23.5
(74.3) 		25.2
(77.4) 		26.7
(80.1) 		27.8
(82.0) 		25.3
(77.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23.7
(74.7) 		23.6
(74.5) 		22.8
(73.0) 		20.6
(69.1) 		17.9
(64.2) 		15.9
(60.6) 		15.1
(59.2) 		15.9
(60.6) 		17.3
(63.1) 		19.7
(67.5) 		21.6
(70.9) 		23.1
(73.6) 		19.8
(67.6)
Record low °C (°F) 14.6
(58.3) 		15.0
(59.0) 		16.8
(62.2) 		10.0
(50.0) 		10.2
(50.4) 		9.8
(49.6) 		8.6
(47.5) 		10.0
(50.0) 		10.5
(50.9) 		11.8
(53.2) 		14.0
(57.2) 		17.0
(62.6) 		8.6
(47.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 126.5
(4.98) 		89.8
(3.54) 		41.4
(1.63) 		10.1
(0.40) 		12.5
(0.49) 		7.6
(0.30) 		4.3
(0.17) 		3.7
(0.15) 		4.7
(0.19) 		8.8
(0.35) 		14.8
(0.58) 		35.3
(1.39) 		359.5
(14.17)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.2 6.2 3.3 1.2 1.4 1.2 0.8 0.7 0.7 1.1 1.9 3.9 29.6
Average relative humidity (%) 77 77 75 76 75 74 74 72 74 75 75 77 75
Mean monthly sunshine hours 310.7 271.9 299.9 289.4 296.4 282.5 295.3 315.4 304.4 314.3 316.2 300.6 3,597
Source 1: NOAA (sun, 1961-1990)[4][5]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity, 1951–1980),[6] Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[7]

Infrastructure

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The colonial legacy is still visible in the architecture and the urban landscape. Major road works and development were undertaken in 2003 to promote the development of the city.

The University Hospital Centre CHU Mitsinjo Betanimena is located near the city center in the district of Tanambao. Another private health facility, St. Luke's Clinic, is located in the district of Sanfily on the road to the airport.

Transport

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Toliara Airport is located in the city. Air Madagascar operates scheduled flights to here.

Sports

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See also

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References

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Toliara.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toliara.
  1. ^ PRÉVENTION DES CATASTROPHES - Atsimo-Andrefana se prépare
  2. ^ Institut National de la Statistique, Antananarivo.
  3. ^ "Collège Étienne-de-Flacourt." AEFE. Retrieved on July 5, 2018.
  4. ^ "Tulear/Toliara Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "Toliara Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Klimatafel von Toliary (Tulear) / Madagaskar" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "Station Toliara" (in French). Meteo Climat. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
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23°21′S 43°40′E / 23.350°S 43.667°E / -23.350; 43.667

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