Lesser Known Wonder Number Three!

On the western coast of Madagascar is an area that was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 because of its unique geography as well as for some of its flora and fauna.  The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park covers roughly 666 square kilometers (257 square miles) and occupies the southern end of the protected area.  The northern end has remained a strict nature preserve and encompasses 853 square kilometers (329 square miles).  This park was nopt opened to the public until 1998. The Bemaraha is best known for its tsingy — sharp limestone pinnacles that may reach 150 feet in height.

“The word tsingy is indigenous to the Malagasy language as a description of the karst badlands of Madagascar. The word can be translated into English as where one cannot walk barefoot.”  (Source:  Shea, Neil (2009 Nov). “Living On a Razor’s Edge: Madagascar’s labyrinth of stone.” National Geographic.)