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Madagascar is an island located in the Indian Ocean. It is also known as the “Great Red Island”. It is separated from the southeast coast of Africa. It is the fourth largest island in the world, with an area of 587,041 Km (226,658 sq. miles). The island id slightly less than twice the size of Arizona. The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo. There are provinces or states. They are Anatananarivo, Antsiranana, Finanarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina and Toliara. Its population is 16,979,744. 45% of the population is 14 years of age and younger, 51.9% is 15-64 years of age, and 3.1% is 65 years and older. French is one official language in Madagascar because it is a French colony. The other official language is Merina dialect, a Malayo-Indonesian origin. The first people on the island are believed to be Indonesians and Africans. In 1500 Diogo Dias, a Portuguese sea captain, was the first European to see this island. In the 17th century the Portuguese, English, and French successively and unsuccessfully tried to colonize Madagascar. The French had a temporary control of the island in 1642, until in 1674 they were driven out by a powerful monarchy among the Merina, a people of Malay origin. The British gained influence