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Notes on the Volcanic Phenomena of Central Madagascar

1886; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 33; Issue: 853 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/033415a0

1476-4687

R. L. Baron,

Plant Diversity and Evolution

MADAGASCAR is as yet almost a terra incognita to the geologist; nothing, so far as I am aware, but notices of the most vague and fragmentary kind ever having appeared in regard to its geological features. Nor indeed may we expect to have other than the most general descriptions until the island is surveyed by thoroughly competent men. In the absence of some thing more complete, I hope that the following notes on the volcanic phenomena of Central Madagascar may not be unacceptable to your readers, and may prove a contribution, however slight, to our knowledge of the geology of this great island. And first let me mention the volcanic cones, of which there are many scores, probably hundreds, in the part of the island of which we are speaking. These volcanic cones are situated in two localities especially: in Mandricirano, on the western side of Lake Itasy, and in the neighbourhood of Betafo in Vakin Ankaratra; the former being from 50 to 60 miles west, and the latter from 70 to 80 miles south-west, of Antananarivo, the capital. Both localities are about 130 miles from the sea on the eastern side of the island, and 150 on the western side. It is hardly necessary to say that all these volcanoes are extinct, and that there are none in activity at the present time in any part of Madagascar.1 On the west side of Itasy the volcanic cones exist in great numbers, and these, therefore, shall be first described.