Androy Region
| Androy Region | |
|---|---|
| Region | |
 Location in Madagascar |
|
| Country |
 Madagascar
|
| Capital | Ambovombe-Androy |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21,930 km2 (8,470 sq mi) |
| Population (2014) | |
| • Total | 753,832 |
| • Density | 34/km2 (89/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC3) |
Androy is the most southerly region of Madagascar. It covers an area of 19,540 km2, and had an estimated population of 733,933 inhabitants in 2013. The admninistrative capital is Ambovombe-Androy, and the chief administrator is Michael Andrianirina (since June 2016).
Androy (literally "where the roy (Mimosa delicatula) is," but more commonly translated as "land of the thorny bush" or "spiny desert") is the most southern region of Madagascar. It is located south of the Tropic of Capricorn roughly between the Mandrare and Menarandra rivers (between these two are the Linta and the Manambovo rivers). It is 19,540 km2 and is bordered by the Mahafaly people to the west (Atsimo-Andrefana) the Antanosy to the east (Anosy) and the Bara people to the north (starting at about Isoanala).
Androy region is divided into four districts, which are sub-divided into 51 communes, which later are further sub-divided into 881 localities (fokontany).
In 2013 the estimated total population of Androy Region was 733,933 inhabitants, with a population growth rate of 2.7% (means population will double in 25 years if not reduced). The population is almost entirely Antandroy ("people of the thorny bush") or Karembola (in the southwest), with small numbers of Antanosy, Mahafaly, Merina and Betsileo who also live there. There are another estimated 150,000 Antandroy living in other parts of the island, many of them having moved due to recurring famine in the Androy region. In 2013 some 349,675 people - nlmost half of the total population of Androy - lived in the Ambovombe-Androy District, which has a population density of 60/km2. The strip along the southeast coast (which has been described by some as "the Tandroy Cradle"), is the most densely populated. Bekily District had about 164,751 inhabitants (32/km2), Beloha-Androy has about 109,361 (23/km2) and Tsihombe has about 110,147 (50/km2).
The Androy region is semi- to sub-arid with an average rainfall of just 400 mm (15.7 in) (350 mm (13.8 in) along the southwestern coast to 700 mm (27.6 in) towards the north), which is unevenly distributed during the year (though there's generally more rain December through February). Other than the Mandrare river, most riverbeds are dry for much of the year and it has frequent droughts (generally every eight to ten years) which often lead to Kere (famine). Coupled with this are almost constant strong, drying winds, especially along the coast, known as "Tiokatimo." Water is in such short supply that it is delivered by truck to some people and sold by those who sell it from oxcarts to others. The periodic famines have caused somewhere between 15 and 30% of the Antandroy to have left Androy, having moved west to Toliary or to northern Madagascar.
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Wikipedia