Introduction

Anosy is a region

Regions of Madagascar

||Madagascar is divided into 22 regions . These formerly second-tier administrative divisions became the first-level administrative divisions when the former six provinces were dissolved on 4 October 2009:- See also :* Subdivisions of Madagascar...

 in southeastern Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

. It borders Androy

Androy

Androy is a region in southern Madagascar.*Capital: Ambovombe-Androy*Chief: Andrien Hatrifenjanahary AreaAndroy is the most southern region of Madagascar...

 region in west, Atsimo-Andrefana

Atsimo-Andrefana

Atsimo Andrefana is a region of Madagascar. It borders Menabe in north, Amoron'i Mania and Haute Matsiatra in northeast, Ihorombe and Anosy in east and Androy in southeast. The capital is Toliara and the population was estimated to be 1,018,500 in 2004...

 in north-west, Ihorombe

Ihorombe

Ihorombe is a region in Madagascar. It borders Haute Matsiatra region in north, Atsimo-Atsinanana in east, Anosy in south and Atsimo-Andrefana in west. The capital is Ihosy and the population was estimated to be 189,200 in 2004...

 in north and Atsimo-Atsinanana

Atsimo-Atsinanana

Atsimo-Atsinanana is a region in Madagascar.*Capital: Farafangana*Chief: Jhonson Andrianahy The region extends along the southern part of the east coast of Madagascar. It is bordered by Vatovavy-Fitovinany and Haute Matsiatra , Ihorombe and Anosy ....

 in north-east. This region runs from approximately Manantenina

Manantenina

Manantenina is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Taolanaro, which is a part of Anosy Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 19,000 in 2001 commune census....

 in the northeast corner of the region, west to Ranomafana, west to Esira

Esira

Esira is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Amboasary Sud, which is a part of Anosy Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 10,000 in 2001 commune census....

 and south to Amboasary

Amboasary

Amboasary is a town in Anosy Region, Madagascar....

-Sud. However, "anosy" means island in Malagasy and is named after the island in the Fanjahira (now named Efaho) river where the Zafiraminia first settled when they arrived in this region in the 16th Century, soon thereafter establishing political unity in this area.

The capital is Tôlanaro

Tôlanaro

Tôlanaro or Tolagnaro is a city in Madagascar. It is the capital of Anosy Region and of Tôlanaro District. It has a port of local importance, and a new port has been built at Ehoala...

 and the population, which is primarily now described as the Antanosy, was estimated to be 544,200 in 2004. There are also Antandroy

Antandroy

The Antandroy are a traditionally nomadic ethnic group of Madagascar inhabiting the arid southern part of the island called Androy roughly located between Amboasary and Beloha and between the ocean and Bekily. Their name means "people of the thorns" in reference to the spiny thickets of endemic...

 living in this region, especially in Tolagnaro and in the Amboasary-Sud district. Finally, there are Malagasy from other parts of the island who also live and work here.

The area of Anosy is 25731 km² (9,935 sq mi).

The region is divided into three districts:

• Amboasary Sud
• Betroka (added in 2004)
• Tôlanaro

Additional Information about the Anosy Region

• Agriculture

Periwinkle

Periwinkle

Periwinkle may refer to:In fauna:* Periwinkle, a common name for a number of gastropod molluscs in the family Littorinidae** Common periwinkle ** Blue periwinkle...

Sisal

Sisal

Sisal is an agave that yields a stiff fibre traditionally used in making twine, rope and also dartboards. The term may refer either to the plant or the fibre, depending on context...

- In 1928 the Societe Fonciere du Sud de Madagascar began testing the viability of growing sisal near Ranopiso. While about 1,000 hectares were planted, by 1935 exports were only 65 tons. In 1932 this company obtained a 4,000 hectare concession in the Mandrare river valley where sisal was found to flourish. By 1947 5 sisal companies had a total of 3,075 hectares planted and employed 1,470 people. Production grew from 2,500 tons in 1950 to almost 29,000 tons produced in 1964. By 1959 6 companies had expanded the area cultivated to 14,528 hectares and employed 4,502 people. Between 1953 and 1958, in part due to additional fees paid by France, these exports were worth 500 millions CFA. In 1962 there were 7,500 people (men and women) producing sisal and the value of sisal exports was just over 1 billion FMG (a year when 99 ships docked in Fort Dauphin) and while it was just over 2 billion FMG in 1964, by 1966 the value of exports was just under 1 billion FMG and the number of employees had dropped to 4,500 by 1967. By 1969 there were about 20,000 hectares planted producing about 25,000 tons/yr (half of which went to France) which was the limit established for Madagascar by the FAO. However, in 3 years in the mid-1960s, the value of sisal decreased by more than 50% due to synthetic fibers which took sisal's place. In spite of this, production was almost 25,000 tons as late as 1970.Current production is appx. 3,000 tons/yr from the Mandrare Valley.

• Anosy Development Plans, Projects & Reporting

(Integrated Growth Pole Project)
(LARO)
(PHBM)
(Other)

• Antanosy people

• Anthropology (see Antanosy people)

• Archaeology

• Biodiversity, Conservation & Ecology

(Andohahela)
(Other)

• Christian Churches & Missions

• Climatology

Current Weather in Tolagnaro

• Community Development

Poverty

NGOs & other International Organizations

- Presently working in Anosy

- Recently worked in Anosy

Using Radio

Other

• Economy

• Education

(K-12)
(Other)

• Energy

• Environment

• Fishing

• Forestry

(Conservation)
(Deforestation)
(Littoral Forest)
(Reforestation)

• General background

• Geography

• Geology & Hydrology

• Health

(Hunger Challenges)
(Malaria)
(Needs Assessment)
(Projects)
(Sanitation)
(Traditional Culture & Healing)

• History - see below Timeline.

• Maps

Mining

Introduction - Mining has been occurring in Anosy for at least the last 100 years as Mica has been an export since the early 1900s, Uranothorianite was mined from the 1950s to the mid-1960s, for several years being Madagascar's second most valuable export. Sapphires briefly became a major export in the early- to mid-1990s and today Qit Mining Madagascar (QMM), which is 80% Rio Tinto and 20% Malagasy government) is exporting 750,000 tons/yr of Ilmenite, along with 40,000 tons/yr of Rutile and Zircon. There are also major deposits of bauxite and prospecting is ongoing for uranium as well as a variety of rare earth minerals.

• Bauxite
  Bauxite
  Bauxite is an aluminium ore and is the main source of aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite Al3, boehmite γ-AlO, and diaspore α-AlO, in a mixture with the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2...
  
  - There are an estimated 100 million tons of bauxite near Manantenina where it has been found over a 40km2 area. While this deposit has been studied for the last 45 years and in 2008 Rio Tinto indicated both a mine and refinery were "development projects," it is not yet being mined, due in large part due to the lack of infrastructure in this part of Madagascar (100km north of Tolagnaro).

• Ilmenite
  Ilmenite
  Ilmenite is a weakly magnetic titanium-iron oxide mineral which is iron-black or steel-gray. It is a crystalline iron titanium oxide . It crystallizes in the trigonal system, and it has the same crystal structure as corundum and hematite....
  
  , Rutile
  Rutile
  Rutile is a mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide, TiO2.Rutile is the most common natural form of TiO2. Two rarer polymorphs of TiO2 are known:...
  
  & Zircon
  Zircon
  Zircon is a mineral belonging to the group of nesosilicates. Its chemical name is zirconium silicate and its corresponding chemical formula is ZrSiO4. A common empirical formula showing some of the range of substitution in zircon is 1–x4x–y...
  
  - Since 2009 750,000 tons/yr of Ilmenite is being exported by QMM to Canada, with a potential for this to grow to 2 million tons/yr. In addition 25,000 tons/yr of Zircon and 15,000 tons/yr of Rutile is being produced as part of their ilmenite mining. The estimated life of this mine is 40 years. Almost $1 billion was spent developing this mine, including a new harbor at Port Ehoala.

(per Book chapters, News reports, Research studies, etc.)

(per the Malagasy government)

(per various NGOs)

(per Rio Tinto/QMM & SODEXHO)

(per the GIZ & World Bank)

• Mica
  Mica
  The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
  
  - Discovered near Tranomaro in 1912 (though it can be found in crystalline schists from Fort Dauphin up to Ihosy), within 6 years 18 tons/yr of phlogopite mica was exported, with over 500 tons/yr by 1928. By 1947 there were 50 different companies mining mica, though the majority of the mining was done by just 10 of them. There were still 15 mines operating in 1962, with active exploration going on at 20 other sites. Mining companies included the Etablissements W. Boetschi, Les Fils de O. Jenny, the Societe des Minerals de la Grande Isle at Benato and th Union des Micas. However, in 1963 the US stopped purchasing mica, resulting in the closure of several mines and the production being cut by 2/3rds. The biggest mine was and still is at Ampandandrava, about 250 km from Tolagnaro, which currently is being mined by Groupe Akesson, exporting 1,000 tons/yr.

• Monazite
  Monazite
  Monazite is a reddish-brown phosphate mineral containing rare earth metals. It occurs usually in small isolated crystals. There are actually at least four different kinds of monazite, depending on relative elemental composition of the mineral:...
  
  - Was mined from beach sands at and near Tolagnaro by Societe d'Exploitation des Monazites, which had a treatment plant which produced 200 tons/yr, though in 1964 the plant was moved to Vohibarika. The heavy-mineral sands near Tolagnaro still have an estimated 310,000 tons.

• Monzanite - Heavy-mineral sands near Tolagnaro have an estimated 177,000 tons, with another 64,000 tons with a high Thorium content located 100km north of Tolagnaro.

• Rutile
  Rutile
  Rutile is a mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide, TiO2.Rutile is the most common natural form of TiO2. Two rarer polymorphs of TiO2 are known:...
  
  - A mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide (TiO2), 15,000 tons/yr are being exported by QMM as a byproduct of it's Ilmenite mining in the region. [see Ilmenite above]

• Sapphires - The presence of Sapphires in Anosy was first written about by Etienne de Flacourt in 1658, they were most likely also seen by Barthelemy Hugon in 1808 and sapphire crystals were described by a French geologist working in the mica mines near Tranomaro in the 1950s. However, it wasn't until 1991 that very high quality blue sapphires of up to 35 carats (similar in quality to those from Kashmir) were purchased by gemologist John Darbellay near the Antandroy villages of Andranondambo and Marohoto (20 km from Tranomaro) in the Manambolo valley, just 80km northwest of Tolagnaro (though it takes a 6-hour drive of almost 210km to get there). Thai purchasers arrived in 1993 (soon joined by traders from Israel, Sri Lanka and several other countries) and by 1994 almost 10,000 miners had rushed to the area from all parts of Madagascar. However, while the initial finds of sapphires in this area were only 2 to 3 meters below ground in gravel which was under clay, since then most sapphires found are almost randomly embedded in a limestone or marble bedrock which take extensive work to obtain, using sledgehammers, spikes and small fires. Thus, the number of miners was only about 5,000 a year later and today Andranondambo only has about 1,000 residents, many who at least occasionally continue to search for sapphires, though they also farm, are vendors, etc. Foreigners visit only occasionally, as most middlemen are now Malagasy. Three different companies attempted to mine commercially, but only for a brief time. An Environmental Impact Study conducted in 2004 found the area "highly degraded" and the remaining dry spiny and gallery forest, threatened ecosystems, "fragmented."

• Thorium
  Thorium
  Thorium is a natural radioactive chemical element with the symbol Th and atomic number 90. It was discovered in 1828 and named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder....
  
   & Uranium
  Uranium
  Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
  
  - By the end of World War II Madagascar was viewed by France as having a "treasure-trove" of minerals, so many several of France's nuclear experts told Charles de Gaulle he needed to keep Madagascar as a colony "regardless of political costs." Multiple deposits of Thorium and Uranium, principally in the form of Uranothorianite, were discovered near Tranomaro, in the loop of the Mandrare river, in 1946 (1953?) by a French Geological Survey, just 80 km northwest of Fort Dauphin, though getting there by road meant driving west almost to Amboasary and then northeast for a total distance from Tolanaro of about 200 kilometres. The local farmers, who raised cattle and goats, and grew rice, manioc and maize, knew of these deposits, calling these rocks "vatovy" to describe their density and black color. They used them as slingshot ammunition and fishing weights.

In 1953 the French Commissariat de l’Energie Atomique (CEA) established their center for mining at Ambatomika ("place of Mica rocks") and brought in mining equipment, built a mill, lab, offices, a small clinic, a store as well as housing and a clubhouse for the expats living there. What they milled was mined from small, open-pit mines, which had a minimum of overburden (for a picture of one of these mines see) within a 20km radius of this site. Some of these sites were mined by colonial concessionaires who sold their ore to the CEA. By 1958 there were 44 Europeans working with 440 Malagasy there (a limited number of mid-level Imerina with many more Antandroy and some Betsileo working as guards, porters and miners). Early, artisanal mining was not recorded, but from 1954 to 1963 almost 4,000 tonnes of highly radioactive uranothorianite was mined and exported to France. By 1962 these exports were worth CFAF 389 million and by 1964 this was Madagascar's second most valuable export. In 1963 the original Ambindandrakemba mine was exhausted so the site at Ambatomika was losed and all the equipment was moved north 40 km to Betioky, which is near te Belafa ore body which was thought to have somewhere between 2,000 and 5,000 tons of uranothorianite, embedded within 100,000 to 300,000 tons of ore. In addition to the CEA, there were 4 private mining companies in 1963 including C.F. Lanouo, Kotovelo (plant at Marovato), Societe des Minerals de la Grand Ile (mine at Ambatoaho, Societe d'Exploitation des Mines d'Andranondambo (mine at Bevalala) and the Societe Miniere et Forestiere at Betanimera. In 1963 these producers were being paid 2,850 to 5,000 CFAF/kg of uranium metal content and CFAF 100 to 350/kg of Thorium.

However, due to the French having found much larger deposits in both Gabon and Niger, and the equipment and the mines were exhausted, this mining ended in 1968. While the higher-grade deposits were exhausted by this time, there is still a considerable amount of lower-grade material.

In 2005, the Malagasy Government conducted aerial magnetic and radiometric surveys of the area, finding the amounts of Thorium and Uranium increased as one moves west, though this could be due to "transported cover" on the easter side of the area. In 2007 drilling by the Canadian firm, Pan African Mining Corporation, at one site found "high-grade uranium mineralisation grading 4329 ppm uranium” with deposits as far down as 60 metres below the surface.

In 2009-10 LP HILL began ground traverses for Thorium and Uranium in the Marodambo area (in addition they have permits to search for Cordierite, Garnets and Sapphires). London-based Bekitoly Resources Ltd. is also involved in the strategic acquisition, exploration and development of uranium, rare earth deposits and other minerals in Madagascar. Their property occurs within includes 8 of the historical open-pit deposits. Their exploration activities have included airborne radiometrics and hyperspectral surveys, ground radiometrics and magnetics, mapping, grab sampling, trenching and drilling which have identified numerous widespread radiometric anomalies with uranium and thorium scintillometer readings of up to 26,257 and 43,215 ppm respectively as well as the rare earth elements of Cerium, Dysprosium, Erbium, Gadolinium, Lanthanum, Neodymium, Praseodymium, Samarium and Yttrium. Their data also suggests there are numerous additional areas "with good indications" that remain untested.

• Zircon
  Zircon
  Zircon is a mineral belonging to the group of nesosilicates. Its chemical name is zirconium silicate and its corresponding chemical formula is ZrSiO4. A common empirical formula showing some of the range of substitution in zircon is 1–x4x–y...
  
  - 25,000 tons/yr of Zircon are being exported by QMM as a byproduct of its Ilmenite mining in this region [see Ilmenite above].

Additional Information about the Anosy Region (part II)

• Poverty [see Community Development above]

• Tourism

Given its pleasant climate (average temperature of 20 (July) to 27⁰ Celsius(January), magnificint beaches, natural reserves (including several containing lemurs), variety of hotels and that it's only a one hour flight from Antananarivo, some have given Tolagnaro the title of "la cote d'Azur Malgache."

Andohahela National Park

Surfing

Tourist Agencies

• Vegetation

Timeline of Anosy History

[The early history of Anosy at this point in time is only based on archeological digs in the Efaho valley. By far the best source on the overall history of Anosy in the last 1,000 years is by Rakotoarisoa Another excellent source for the early history of Anosy is by Wright et al. []

Maliovola Phase of the Efaho Valley (11th-13th Centuries)

• Some of the sites studied focused on fishing, others on cattle. Gardening (mainly tubers) was done as well as hunting (including lemurs), but no rice cultivation. Iron working was also present.^[7] Trade was limited to northeast along the coast, with no indication of imported pottery. Settlement sites were small (0.5ha in size), seasonal in some cases and even temporary, based on the need to move to obtain food. They were concentrated near the coast in dunal areas and were part of what was a very simple economic system.

Ambinanibe Phase of the Efaho Valley (14th-15th Centuries)

14th Century

• China began trade with East Africa.
• Cultivation of sweet potatoes (bageda), iron working further developed. Signs of connections with broader Indian Ocean exchange networks with little evidence of settlement hierarchy or social differences and little change in population. Settlements were larger and primarily on the flood plains, with those near the coast on lagoons rather than the ocean itself.^[7]
• Arrival of the ZafiRaminia in Madagascar according to Racoube, grand ancestor in Anosy. Previous to this the indigenous people, described as "black" as a social group, were divided hierarchically, with the Voajiry (royalty) over the Lahvohitra (aristocrats) over the Ontsoa (commoners) over the Andevo (slaves). On the other hand the ZafiRaminia were described as "white." Their men intermarried with the local nobility, took over the property rights of their wife's family, formed the Roandriana (royalty who were declared "Masters of the Earth" by the remaining Voajiry) who were over the Anakandriana (nobles) and the Onjatsy (commoners). Anosy was divided up into autonomous regions known as "Mahavita tena," with a king, known as the "Andriambahoaka." While were considered to be of a divine lineage, they couldn't ammend what were known as the "Basic Laws." Rather they were under the control of their subjects, asked to arbitrate when there were states of emergency.

15th Century

• 1403-1433 - Seven exploration and trade voyages led by Zheng He from China to East Africa, with fleets as big as several hundred ships.
• late 15th century? - Gujarat from northern India
  India
  India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
  
   shipwrecked in Anosy (Fort Dauphin bay?.^[26]), possibly constructing what became the Portuguese Tranovato?

Tranovato Phase of the Efaho Valley (16th-early 17th Centuries)

16th Century

• Middle and upper Efaho valley settled where communities were still few though larger, many had moved further inland, were fortified with both ditches and wood palisades and became stratified, with rise of 'Paramount Chiefdoms.' Time of military campaigns as the Zafiraminia (newly arrived) seized power and implemented strict socio-hierarchical system associated with royalty and the ancestors. Rice and cattle were the primary sources of food. Long-distance trade with ceramics imported from China, England, France and Portugal, while cattle were exported.^[7]

• 1506 - Portuguese explorer Fernand Soares sailed along the Anosy coast, but didn't anchor there.^[26]
• 1508 - Diogo Lopes de Sequeira
  Diogo Lopes de Sequeira
  Diogo Lopes de Sequeira was a Portuguese fidalgo, sent to analyze the trade potential in Madagascar and Malacca, he arrived at Malacca on 11 September, 1509. He left the next year when he discovered that Sultan Mahmud Shah, the local leader, was devising his assassination...
  
   of Portugal, sent to analyze the trade potential of Madagascar, anchors first in Ranofotsy and then in Tolagnaro bay.^[26] The Portuguese attempted to establish a trading post somewhere in Anosy (site unknown though possibly at the Tranovato ("stone house") which is located on an island in the Fanjahira river (Ilha de Santa Cruz), 9 km. west of Tolagnaro, just north of Vinanibe. This included Roman Catholic priests, mostly Jesuit, though they were not Portuguese by birth. All but 5 Portuguese living there reportedly massacred somewhere around 1528 which ends this attempted settlement. [Another version of the above is in 1527, of 600 sailors who were on 2 Portuguese ships which shipwrecked on the southwest coast of Madagascar, only 70 made it to Ranofotsy bay where they, with other shipwrecked sailors, established Tranovato ("stone house") on an island in the Fanjahira river (Ilha de Santa Cruz), 9 km. west of Tolagnaro. All but 5 Portuguese living there reportedly were massacred during a celebration. The few survivors were picked up by a passing ship in 1531.^[26]

• 1529 - French sailor, navigator, cartographer and poet Jean Parmentier
  Jean Parmentier
  Jean Parmentier , born in Dieppe, France, was a navigator, cartographer, and poet. Jean and his brother Raoul made numerous voyages for the shipowner Jean Ango, and sailed to the coasts of Brazil, North America, West Africa and Sumatra....
  
   described the ocean off eastern Madagascar as "La Mere Sans Raison" (The Ocean Without Reason).

Ehoala Phase of the Efaho Valley (17th Century)

17th century

• Ehoala phase of Anosy with focus on irrigated rice, but manioc had also been introduced. Settlements were smaller and located primarily in upper valleys away from coast. Cattle and slaves continued to be exported.^[7]

• 1613 - Jesuit Fathers on a Portuguese ship anchored in Italy bay observe some Malagasy wearing pewter crosses around their necks while others had tattoos of crosses. Father Mariana established a chapel and house at the old Tranovato site. King Andriantsiambany was asked to send his eldest son, Prince Andrianjerivao, to India for education and hopefully his conversion to Christianity. The king refused to do this, so Prince Andriandramaka, the king's 12 year old son, was kidnapped and sent to Goa for 2 years of study at the Jesuit College of Santa Fe where he was renamed Dom Andre Sahavedra. Meanwhile the French Jesuit missionaries living in Anosy worked out of the old Tranovato site just north of Ambinanibe.^[25]
• 1615 - Prince Sahavandra, having been baptized while at Goa, returned to Anosy together with 3 Jesuit missionaries and 5 other foreigners. By this time the local Anosy leaders sought to starve the missionaries into exile. The prince became king at the death of his father, taking the name of Andriandramaka and continued to respect the local beliefs and customs.
• 1617 - Jesuit missionaries left, having only baptized 1 person. Three years later they abandoned their efforts in Anosy.
• 1618 - The sole survivor of a Dutch shipwreck on Karembola coast ends up living with a king in Anosy, from whom he is ransomed and went home to Holland on a passing ship, 7 years after he washed ashore.^[26]

• 1640 - of 400 French shipwrecked in Karembola (Androy), only 2 manage to reach Anosy.
• 1642-43 - First French colonial settlement in Anosy established by Jacques de Pronis Foucquenbourg the French East India Company
  French East India Company
  The French East India Company was a commercial enterprise, founded in 1664 to compete with the British and Dutch East India companies in colonial India....
  
   at Manafiafy, 40 km. northeast of Tolagnaro, with 8 shipwrecked Frenchmen and 70 colonists. However, after 26 of the 40 settlers died within the first several months there (many most likely due to Malaria), the settlement was moved to what became Fort Dauphin, a major European settlement and trading post in the Indian Ocean.^[25]
• 1648 - First Lazarist missionaries, sent from France by St. Vincent de Paul, arrived in Fort Dauphin. By 1650, while 77 people had been baptized, two missionaries had died, at least one from fever.
• mid 17th century - Rise of Zafiraminia rule of Efaho valley as they become key connection between French and the rest of Anosy.
• Extensive destruction of villages close to Fort Dauphin led by Flacourt.
• 1643-73 - Several different French Governors of Fort Dauphin sought to conquer Anosy, pillaging and then burning hundreds of villages, killing thousands of Malagasy, enslaving others and stealing tens of thousands of cattle as they sought to wrest control of the area from the Zafiraminia. During this time French living there also fought for several of the Anosy kings. At this point there were an estimated 10,000 Antanosy living near Fort Dauphin, with the total population of Anosy several times this number.^[25][26] For more information on these 30 years, see Tolanaro
  Tôlanaro
  Tôlanaro or Tolagnaro is a city in Madagascar. It is the capital of Anosy Region and of Tôlanaro District. It has a port of local importance, and a new port has been built at Ehoala...
  
  . For more information on work by the Roman Catholic Church in Anosy during the 16th and 17th centuries, see Roman Catholic Diocese of Tôlagnaro.

• 1654 - Two additional missionaries died on site as did three new ones enroute from France.

• 1663 - On Christmas Day, 4 adults and 15 children were baptized, but another missionary died soon thereafter.
• 1665-67 - Nine new missionaries, 4 lay brothers and 2 Recollet farmers sent to Fort Dauphin, which by this time had a chapel, monstary and library.
• 1668 - Fort described as having two "bastions" on the north side which commanded the harbor, was 50 feet long by 26 feet wide with a main door which overlooked s small meadow to the west while the other door looked east towards the sea.

• 1674 - Fort Dauphin evacuated and fort and settlement closed after over half of the French population living there at that time were killed.^[25] While only 2 of a total of 37 missionaries sent to Fort Dauphin by that time were able to return to France, by the time they left hundreds of baptized Antanosy, a French-Antanosy dictionary and a Catechism in the Antanosy language behind.

Hoala Phase of the Efaho Valley (18th-19th Centuries)

18th Century

• Continued conflict as the Zafiraminia attempted to regain control, without success. Size and number of settlements decreased and moved further inland from the floodplains and rivers towards the mountains. New crops introduced and a great deal of imports from China. Towards the end of this phase the traditional clay cooking ware were replaced by imported pots made of iron.

• 1766-71 - Frenchman Earl of Maudave attempted to rebuild Fort Dauphin so it could be a supply base for the colonies on the French Mascarene Islands (Reunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues). While the settlers were welcomed, the Navy stopped this project in 1770 and Fort Dauphin was again abandoned by French. With their departure, the Zafiriminia kingdom also falls.

• 1798 - HMS Garland wrecked near Manafiafy.

19th century

• 1811 - Jean Rene, son of a French settler of Fort Dauphin and an Antanosy mom, became Governor of Toamasina, first under British and then under the Imerina king Radama I's rule. He took a blood oath with Radama in 1817 and was a powerful ally, even against the Antanosy, until his death in 1826.
• 1819 - Albrand reopened Fort Dauphin in the name of King Louis the 18th of France, having negotiated with the Zafiraminia king Rabefania who reassured Albrand the past was forgotten and who was interested in French protection from the Imerina monarchy, led by king Radama I, who had declared "the ocean is the limit of our rice fields" and was seeking to conquer the whole of Madagascar. The Antanosy people were also seeking a way to respond to their increasingly despotic princes ("Rohandriana").

Imerina Control of parts of Anosy (1825-1895)

• 1825 - Anosy, including Fort Dauphin, conquered by 3,000 Imerina soldiers, led by Ramananolona,cousin of Radama I, after a battle at Masihanaka, near Eboboka. The Imerina entered the French fort, subdued De Grasse, the French Commandant, replaced the French flag with that of the Imerina kingdom and Ramananolona was suddenly head the commercial establishment at Fort Dauphin. Having confiscated the Antanosy guns, the Imerina demanded both cattle, slaves and forced labor (adults were forced to create and farm rice fields while children were required to protect rice crop from birds and sugar cane from rats) from them as well. The French fled to an island off of Manafiafy, from which they were picked up and sailed to Bourbon. From this point on there was Antanosy resistance by Rabefania's soldiers, which was brutally suppressed by Rafito, who commanded the Imerina troops. This resistance continued till the French conquered the Imerina, meaning most of Anosy was not controlled by the Imerina kingdom, but rather only Fort Dauphin, its neighboring town of Andrahomana and Manafiafy, where they collected duty on exports and imports.
• 1827 - Jean Laborde
  Jean Laborde
  Jean Laborde was an adventurer and early industrialist in Madagascar. He became the chief engineer of the Merina monarchy, supervising the creation of a modern manufacturing center under Queen Ranavalona I...
  
  's ship runs aground north of Fort Dauphin during a cyclone. He makes it ashore and is captured by Antanosy, at the same time becoming, per Queen Ranavalona I
  Ranavalona I
  Ranavalona I , also known as Ranavalo-Manjaka I, was a sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar from 1828 to 1861...
  
  's royal decree, a royal slave. He made his way north and ended up significantly impacting the Imerina kingdom
  Merina Kingdom
  The Merina Kingdom was a pre-colonial south-eastern African state that dominated most of what is now Madagascar. It spread outward from Imerina, the central highlands region primarily inhabited by the Merina ethnic group with a modern and historic political capital at Antananarivo and a spiritual...
  
   of that time.

• 1845 - First wave of 30,000 Antanosy moved west, eventually to the Onilahy River
  Onilahy River
  Onilahy is a river in Toliara Province, southern Madagascar. It flows down from the hills near Betroka to the Mozambique Channel. It empties at ....
  
   valley near Betioky
  Betioky
  Betioky is a town in Atsimo-Andrefana Region, Madagascar....
  
   and Bezaha
  Bezaha
  Bezaha is a town and commune in southwest Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Betioky, which is a part of Atsimo-Andrefana Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 19,000 in 2001 commune census....
  
   to escape Imerina rule.

• mid-1850s - Leather craft skills introduced by missionaries of the London Missionary Society
  London Missionary Society
  The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
  
   in the highlands spread to Anosy when those skilled in this area fled Imerina control. At this time some Antanosy also become part of the specialized porterage system of the Imerina kingdom, returning to Anosy with their earnings after completing their contracts.

• 1852 - Six month siege of Fort Dauphin by the Antanosy which was finally broken by Imerina reinforcements sent by Lambert who broke through to the town. In response to unceasing repression and atrocities by the Imerina, an estimated 80,000 Antanosy, led by king Zaomanery, first moved to Androy
  Androy
  Androy is a region in southern Madagascar.*Capital: Ambovombe-Androy*Chief: Andrien Hatrifenjanahary AreaAndroy is the most southern region of Madagascar...
  
   (which the Imerina hadn't been able to conquer), but faced with thefts of cattle, wives and children by the Antandroy
  Antandroy
  The Antandroy are a traditionally nomadic ethnic group of Madagascar inhabiting the arid southern part of the island called Androy roughly located between Amboasary and Beloha and between the ocean and Bekily. Their name means "people of the thorns" in reference to the spiny thickets of endemic...
  
  , eventually moved further west to join the previous Antanosy in the Onilahy river valley. Unfortunately, these Antanosy were faced with raid of their livestock by the Bara and Mahafaly people of that area. They felt further threatened when the Imerina were able to conquer Toliary. They also struggled regarding ethnicity, resulting in separate leaders for the Zafitomany versus the Zafiramania peoples.

• 1869 - Ranavalona II, Queen of the Imerina, became a Christian, requiring her representatives around the country to build churches. Some time after this a church was built in Fort Dauphin by the Imerina living there, who eventually made attendance mandatory for those living in Fort Dauphin.

• 1880 - Two Malagasy Christian evangelists were sent by the London Mission Society to Anosy and began to work with the church there, eventually taking over leadership of it.
• 1883 - Beginning of war against the Imerina kingdom in the Antananarivo region.
• 1884 - king Tsiamanana, who had replaced king Zaomanery, as head of some of the Antanosy living in the Onilahy river valley, refused to submit to the Imerina general Rainimavo.
• 1887 - Imerina lose control of Antananarivo, resulting in the Antanosy no longer respecting their rule
• 1888 - Having spent over 6 weeks walking down from Antananarivo, American Rev. John and Lena Hogstad arrived in Fort Dauphin, accompanied by the Rev. Nilsen-Lund of the Norwegian Mission Society, for whom Hogstads worked, who helped them with their journey and to settle there. Rev. Hogstad and his wife began work on establishing a Lutheran church in Anosy, work which eventually expanded to encompass all of Anosy, Androy and the Mahafaly regions, with significant numbers of American Lutheran pastors, evangelists, educators and medical staff working in southern Madagascar for the next 100 years. However, having been sent with the blessing of the Queen of Imerina, they were asked to start working with an existing Imerina congregation located just outside the Fort in the midst of where the Imerina lived. While they were supported by the Imerina Governor in these efforts, this support meant they were viewed as collaborators with the hated Imerina by the Antanosy.^[27]
• 1889 - First 7 Antanosy youth baptized by Rev. Hogstad. Shortly thereafter the Hogstads began a Lutheran school especially for Antanosy youth, purchasing the liberation of Rabenjamina, a young local slave who'd been taught how to read and write in Antananarivo, who became the first teacher. Before long Hogstad had also started an evangelist training school, though 8 of the 10 first students were either Betsileo or Imerina.

• 1892 - London Mission Society ended their work in southern Madagascar, having handed over leadership of the Fort Dauphin congregation to Rev. Hogstad.

French Control of Anosy (1895-1960)

• 1895 - Madagascar conquered by France. Permanent Catholic Missions started in Fort Dauphin, led by Paulist priests and the Sisters of Charity.
• 1896 - Apostolic Vicariate of Madagascar established Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Madagascar (see Roman Catholic Diocese of Tôlagnaro for more information on the work of the Roman Catholic Church in Anosy.). Rev. Hogstad and his wife establish a Lutheran Mission Station at Manantenina. In the next 10 years Lutheran Mission Stations are opened up in Manafiafy (1898), Tsivory (1900), Manambaro (1908), Ranomafana (1909), .
• 1897 - France begins to allot up to 2,000+ hectares concessions to large companies, all of them run by Europeans or Creoles. These eventually included about 30% of the most fertile land in Anosy.
• 1898 - Fort Dauphin area conquered by France using Gallieni's "tache de l'huile" method, a counter-insurgency method still being used today. The French disrupted both the Imerina rule as well as that by Zafiraminia princes.

20th century Also see

• early-1900s - The Compagnie Agricole et Industrielle de Madagascar (CAIM) planted 500 hectares of sisal on a 2,550 hectares concession they had received next to Lac Anony near Andranobory. The Tatsimo (see Antanosy) and those Antanosy living in the Tsivory area were soon in revolt of the French, to the point that the French captured the Tatsimo king Rahosinta who was deported to Reunion.
• 1901 - French Lieutenant Colonel Lavoiseau forces Antanosy to unite under the leadership of just one person who was Fitory.
• 1904 - Rebellion by Taisaka spread to Antanosy, led by king Befanatrika, against French rule in Esira, Isaka, Mahampoana, Manafiafy, Manambaro, Manantenina and Ranomafana results in many of the expatriates living in the Anosy region along with many Malagasy Christians retreating to the rundown fort in Fort Dauphin. This lasted for 5 months, eventually put down by French with aid from their Senagalese soldiers. The region also suffered from smallpox and locusts at this time.
• 1905 - Estimated 120,000 Antanosy. Jenny family collects latex
  Latex
  Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
  
   along the Mandrare river, using barges to ship it to Fort Dauphin from where it was exported to Europe. Some of this was made into surgeon's gloves and some of the first Michelin
  Michelin
  Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
  
   tires.
• 1906 - French, assuming Malagasy Lutherans had led the revolt, shut down all of the Lutheran schools and churches in Anosy. Schools were not reopened until missionaries from France came to reopen them.
• At about this same time Pierre de Bellier de Villentroy (Frenchman living on Reunion, an uncle of Alain and Henri de Heaulme) established a Mica
  Mica
  The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
  
   mine near Tsivory, which he exported through Fort Dauphin to Europe.
• 1912 - Lutheran Mission Station opened at Behara.
• 1913 - Roman Catholic church's Apostolic Vacariate of Southern Madagascar becomes that of Fort-Dauphin.
• 1914 - Just over 25 years after the arrival of the first American Lutheran missionary there was a total of 16 missionaries working in Anosy (with 8 more arriving to join them by 1917), 2,741 baptized and 2,511 students in Lutheran schools. By 1930 another 27 American Lutheran missionaries had arrived to replace missionaries who had returned to the US, died in Madagascar and to help expand work in Androy.

• 192? - Marthe de Heaulme, about 25 years old, arrives in Fort Dauphin as a Catholic novitiate, becoming Sister Gabrielle of the Daughters of Charity, eventually founding and heading 3 different religious communities in southern Madagascar. Alain de Heaulme moves south to work on Pierre de Bellier de Villentroy's mica mine near Tsivory, where Alain became manager.
• 1924 - Serious efforts began to turn over the leadership of the Lutheran church in Anosy to Malagasy leadership.
• 1926 - 179 Europeans were exploiting 2,170 hectares for various crops, for an average of 12 hectares/European while 88 Malagasy (many of them not from Anosy), were farming 528 hectares (25% that of Europeans), for an average of 6 hectares/Malagasy.
• 1928 - With the growing of sisal
  Sisal
  Sisal is an agave that yields a stiff fibre traditionally used in making twine, rope and also dartboards. The term may refer either to the plant or the fibre, depending on context...
  
   "outsourced" from Mexico to Africa, the Societe Fonciere du Sud de Madagascar plants a trial sisal plantation near Ranopiso, about 40 km west of Fort Dauphin. Henry de Heaulme, 29 years old, arrived in Fort Dauphin, having driven down from Tananarive in a Harley Davidson motorcycle with his wife and son in the side car. His intent was to export mica and sisal from Androy and western Anosy through Fort Dauphin. Henry soon gets involved in conservation efforts in the Mandrare river and elsewhere and later his son and daughter-in-law also get into the tourism business.

• 1930 - Another 27 more by 1930
• 1932 - The Societe Fonciere du Sud de Madagascar planted a 4,000 hectares of sisal in the Mandrare valley near Amboasary
  Amboasary
  Amboasary is a town in Anosy Region, Madagascar....
  
  , about 75 km west of Fort Dauphin. [For information about sisal production in the Mandrare valley, see Guerin (1969?).]
• 1935 - Ranopiso sisal plantation was about 2.000 hectares, exporting 65 tonnes. Construction of a dam to expand farming near Behara.
• 1936 - The first sisal plantation near Amboasary is established by Établissements Gallois. Henri de Heaulme established his sisal plantation and the Berenty forest reserve.

• 1940 - Vichy France
  Vichy France
  Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
  
   takes over control of Madagascar. The de Guitaut family, based out of Fort Dauphin, starts local growing and production of tobacco as none can be imported.
• 1942 - Fort Dauphin invaded by British forces who replaced Vichy France's control with that of the Free French Forces
  Free French Forces
  The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
  
  . While Mica was mined in western Anosy continued to be exported from Fort Dauphin to both sides of conflict, sisal production fell due to a lack of imports.
• 1945 - Expansion of irrigated farming near Behara results in quite a few people moving here to work.
• 1948 - Beginning of lobster production in Anosy.

• 1950s-60s - Boetchi (Swiss), de Heaulme and Jenny families and the Lyonnaise and Marseillaise companies exported wild castor oil beans, cattle (10,000-30,000/year), mica and sisal.
• 1954 - Establishment of Manambaro Hospital, some 25 km west of Fort Dauphin, by Lutheran Mission.
• 1955 - Societe Fonciere du Sud de Madagascar (SFSM) developed 130 hectares of rice fields and planted 25,000 coffee trees on their remaining 260 hectares concession near Ifarantsa. They had earlier planted 2,175 hectares of coffee near Ranomafana, having abandoned 800 hectares of attempted sisal near Ranopiso as well as a 182 hectares coconut planation at Lokaro. That same year the Apostolic Vicariate of Fort-Dauphin becomes the Diocese of Fort Dauphin.
• 1956 - 138,000 Antanosy.
• 1957 - Construction of the SIFOR sisal weaving factory just outside Fort Dauphin. This same year, 3 sawmills, owned by Jenny (at Bemangidy) and the Societe Sciere d'Ilandy (at Antsapa), along with another sawmill at Elandy were producing over 1,000 m3 of lumber/yr, much of it either precious or at least semi-precious wood.
• 1958 - Henri de Heaulme becomes President of the Provincial Assembly and Vice-President of the National Assembly, urging independence for Madagascar. He is present with Philibert Tsiranana
  Philibert Tsiranana
  Philibert Tsiranana was a Malagasy politician and leader, who served as the first President of Madagascar from 1959 to 1972....
  
   and Monja Jaona
  Monja Jaona
  Monja Jaona was a Malagasy politician and early nationalist. Jaona founded the Madagascar for the Malagasy party and agitated for the downfall of the Tsiranana regime in 1972. He was also the mayor of Tulear...
  
   at the signing of the new constitution for the Malagasy Republic.
• 1959 - 148,132 Antanosy. In the Mandrare valley, 6 companies were growing sisal, each with 2,000+ hectares planted, employing a total of 4,500 Malagasy.

Anosy as part of the Republic of Madagascar (1960-present)

• 1960 - Madagascar became an independent nation.
• 1961 - SIFOR was producing 800 tonnes per year, half of which was exported to France and Reunion.
• 1963 - Between 1954 and 1963, 3,986 tons of highly radioactive Uranothorianite had been mined and exported to France.
• 1964 - Year of greatest sisal production from the Mandrare valley (almost 30,000 tonnes), having grown from just over 2,000 tonnes in 1950. France was the primary importer.
• 1965 - Population of Fort Dauphin is 11,800 and that of the Antanosy estimated to be 148,132.
• 1966 - Beginning of export of seaweed to Japan.
• 1967 - Due to the growing popularity of synthetic fibers, the price for sisal had dropped 50% since 1964.

• 1974 - Beginning of the export of live lobsters from Anosy to Europe which was made possible in part due to beginning of 737 service between Fort Dauphin and Tananarive which connected with a flight to Europe.
• 1975 - Initial analysis of Ilmenite
  Ilmenite
  Ilmenite is a weakly magnetic titanium-iron oxide mineral which is iron-black or steel-gray. It is a crystalline iron titanium oxide . It crystallizes in the trigonal system, and it has the same crystal structure as corundum and hematite....
  
   in Anosy conducted by US Steel which set up a very small pilot plant in Mandena. Cyclone Deborah damages much of Anosy, including Tolagnaro and Amboasary, knocking out electricity and water supply for several days.

• 1980s - Anosy region becomes a high priority area for conservation efforts by international NGOs, resulting in the influx of a wide variety of foreign conservation experts (and some Malagasy), who began work in this area. SHTM created by de Heaulme which currently has 5 hotels in the Tolagnaro area plus the Berenty reserve.

mid-1980s - Growth of Tolagnaro results in increased demand for charcoal for cooking, resulting in rapid deforestation of forests near Tolagnaro, Manantantely and the spiny forest east of Amboasary-Sud (this charcoal primarily produced by Antandroy).

• 1986 - Henri and Jean de Heaulme family awarded the J. Paul Getty Award for Conservation Leadership
  J. Paul Getty Award for Conservation Leadership
  The J. Paul Getty Award for Conservation Leadership has been awarded annually since 2006 in recognition of outstanding leadership in global conservation. The award aims to acknowledge individuals making "pioneering and substantial" contributions to conservation as well as foster the development of...
  
   for their conservation work in Madagascar. OMNIS
  OMNIS
  OMNIS is the Malagasy government organisation, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy, responsible for:...
  
   and what became QIT Madagascar Minerals
  QIT Madagascar Minerals
  QIT Madagascar Minerals is a mining company located in the Fort-Dauphin region of southeastern Madagascar. After roughly 20 years of exploration, negotiations, and preliminary work, the company began production of the titanium dioxide ore, ilmenite...
  
   begin a 20+ year process which finally leads to mining of both ilmenite and ???. What was then known as QIT Fer et Titane establishes an office in Tolagnaro and begins work in the Anosy region.
• 1989 - Diocese of Fort Dauphin becomes that of Tolagnaro.

• 1990s - Parts of Anosy and a reserve near Berenty
  Berenty
  Berenty is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Ankazoabo, which is a part of Atsimo-Andrefana Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 1,000 in 2001 commune census....
  
   (in eastern Androy) become major tourist destinations, causing rapid growth in the tourism industry in this area.
• 1992 - Initial exploitation of Sapphires found near Andranodambo, some 210 km from Tolagnaro (first seen by French in the mid-1600s, early 1800s and 1950s) in what was then a location where mica was mined.
• 1994 - Cyclone Daisy passes through. Azafady
  Azafady
  Azafady is a registered UK charity and Malagasy non-governmental organisation, established in 1994, working in southeast Madagascar to alleviate poverty, improve well-being and protect unique environments...
  
   starts working in Anosy. Later that year Andrew Lees dies of heat exhaustion in the Petriky forest, just west of Tolagnaro, while researching the potential impacts of the mining of Ilmenite in the Anosy region. The next year the Andrew Lees Trust was established, with an office set up at Libanona (just outside of Tolagnaro), to develop and implement social and environmental education projects across southern Madagascar.
• 1995 - 300 tons of seaweed per year exported to Japan.
• 1996 - Anosy region is identified as one of the ecologically most diverse regions of Madagascar.
• 1997 - Cyclone Gretelle passes through.
• 1998 - 20,500 passengers disembark at Tolagnaro airport.
• 1999 - 24,800 tourists visit Anosy.

21st century

• 2000 - Only 15,000 tourists visit Anosy due to cholera outbreak. 7,000 of them visit Berenty.
• 2005 - World Food Program responds to malnutrition in Anosy caused by a combination of drought and flooding.
• 2007 - Over 500,000 people now living in Anosy. In addition, Malagasy from all over the island, Europeans, North Americans, Filipinos, French, Japanese and South Africans all living in Tolagnaro while working on the QMM projects, filling up all the hotels for the next two years, ruining most of the tourism business in Anosy.
• 2009 - Port d'Ehoala is completed and QIT Madagascar Minerals
  QIT Madagascar Minerals
  QIT Madagascar Minerals is a mining company located in the Fort-Dauphin region of southeastern Madagascar. After roughly 20 years of exploration, negotiations, and preliminary work, the company began production of the titanium dioxide ore, ilmenite...
  
  begins to export Ilmenite through it to Canada for processing after over 30 years of exploration and studies and several years of construction of the port and mining facilities.