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Madagascar rivers include a few popular names like Ihosy, Mania, Onilahy, Mangoky and Betsiboka. Madagascar rivers also include some rivers like Mangoro, Maningory, Mananara and others, which originate in the central highlands and flow towards the eastern coast. Apart from them, rivers like Ivondro, Mananjary and Bemarivo also flow eastwards and fall into the Indian ocean. The courses of these Madagascar rivers are short as the water parting is situated on the eastern coast itself. The rivers flow with great speed and often give rise to waterfalls as they encounter sharp gradients.
The rivers of Madagascar, situated on the other end of the island, or the western coast, take a slow course as they meander their way into the Mozambique Channel. The gradient here is not as elevated as the eastern coast. The western coast has a number of Madagascar rivers flowing across it like the Mahajamba, the Mania, the Mangoky, the Sambirano, the Betsiboka, the northern and southern Mahavavy and others.
The Betsiboka river has the port of Mahajanga situated at its mouth. The Betsiboka also has a tributary known as the Ikopa, which flows by the capital city of Antananarivo. The river basin of the Mangoky river is fairly large and is about 50,000 square kilometers whereas the Betsiboka river has a basin of only 11,800 square kilometers. The Ikopa River basin stretches to about 18,550 square kilometers. The southern part of the country has the river Mandrare flowing through it.
Owing to the climactic conditions in this part of the country, the river remains waterless for some months. The river basin area stretches about 12,435 square kilometers. There are several rivers flowing through Madagascar and they ensure the fertility to the lands of the country.
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