Canal des Pangalanes
The Canal des Pangalanes is a canal that consists of a series of natural rivers, waterways and human-made lakes that extends for over 654 kilometres (410 mi) [1] and runs down the east coast of Madagascar from Toamasina to Farafangana.[2] It is used primarily for transportation and fishing, and it has unspoiled natural beaches that are visited by tourists. An initial area of the canal in Toamasina (in French: Tamatave) is straight, while subsequent areas have curves, lagoons, connected lakes and swamps.[3][4]
Construction
Initial construction of the canal was undertaken by France under gouverneur Joseph Gallieni during the French colonial period between 1896 and 1904[5][2][6] to increase trade, provide a means to supply troops that were located inland,[6] and to provide a safe route for cargo boats destined for Toamasina compared to traveling along the coast of the Indian Ocean.[2] By 1901, an uninterrupted canal existed between Toamasina and Andevoranto, which extended 95 kilometres (60 mi).[6]
Additional construction from 1949 to 1957, cost over 800 million CFA francs to complete.[6] Part of this project included the 570 million CFA franc construction of a river port at Toamasina and improvements to the canal for 30 kilometres (20 mi) from Toamasina to south of Ivondro, which was completed in 1953.[6]
Further work after World War II enabled 30-ton
Use
Canal des Pangalanes is used by local people: Some of them use canoes for travel and make their homes along its banks.[3] Ferries run up and down navigable areas transporting items such as wood, charcoal, dried fish and other produce.[3][6] Many local people rely upon the canal for and, for some of them, it is their only means of travel.[3] The canal provides fish for the locals, and cassava is grown along its banks.[3] Coffee factories exist along the canal.[7] Some areas have white, sandy beaches.[3]
A
1980s renovations
After use of the canal decreased, a large project in the 1980s restored and renovated it.[2][3] The rehabilitation project included dredging areas overrun with silt, the operation of a cargo service enabled by the purchase of a fleet of tug barges, and the construction of warehouses.[3] By 2011 the tug barges were observed to be no longer in use and the warehouses were empty.[3] The tug barges are stored near the pier in Toamasina, where they are rotting.[2] Still, 400 km had been renovated for the transport of goods & passagers.[9]
Pollution
An oil refinery south of Toamasina contributed to pollution in that area of the canal, as evidenced by
See also
- Lists of canals
References
- ^ Le Canal des Pangales circulable
- ^ a b c d e f Lonely Planet Madagascar, Emilie Filou, Paul Stiles
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Madagascar, Hilary Bradt. p. 270.
- ^ Madagascar: Trade and services - Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ canal-pangalanes
- ^ a b c d e f The Malagasy Republic: Madagascar Today, Virginia Thompson, Richard Adloff. pp. 294–295.
- ^ "The Pangalanes Canal - Lonely Planet". Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- ^ www.univ-antananarivo.mg https://web.archive.org/web/20180308140347/http://www.univ-antananarivo.mg/Institut-de-Civilisation-Musee-d. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
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External links
- Madagascar Travel Guide – includes a map of Canal des Pangalanes