Nosy Boraha
Nosy Boraha previously known as Sainte-Marie, the main town of Ambodifotatra, is an island off the east coast of Madagascar. It covers an area of 222 km2 and has a population estimated at 30,000. Sainte-Marie Island is known for being one of the best islands in Madagascar and its authentic and preserved character, its whale watching, its beautiful beaches, its romantic history, and the kindness of its inhabitants. The channel between Nosy Boraha and Madagascar is known for whale watching. Substantial pods of humpback whales (Megaptera) migrate from the Antarctic to the Baie de Tintingue, where the conditions are well suited for mating and raising calves before their annual migration to colder water. Although scarce, southern right whales as a part of the recolonization of their former ranges, are known to appear along the coast from time to time.
Besides, Nosy Boraha became a popular base for pirates, between the 17th and 18th centuries. The location provided bays and inlets for protection from storms, abundant fruit, and quiet waters. Legendary pirates including William Kidd, Robert Culliford, Olivier Levasseur, Henry Every, Abraham Samuel, and Thomas Tew lived in the île aux Forbans, an island located in the bay of Sainte Marie's main town, Ambodifotatra. Many of them were interred in cemeteries on Nosy Boraha, although the remains have never been identified.
On Nosy Boraha, the inhabitants are attached to traditions. The social or family events are faithfully linked to practices invoking the ancestors' spirits. The wealth and variety of these rituals underline the authenticity and depth of the "Saint-Marien" cultural identity. Sainte Marie is endowed with rich fauna and flora. Sainte-Marie has several species of lemur as well as numerous orchid species, among which is the "Queen of Madagascar" (Eulophiella roempleriana). The island was the only known location of Delalande's coua, a non-parasitic cuckoo that became extinct in the late 19th century, possibly due to predation by feral cats. Ilot Madame Museum is the only museum found on this island.
Location: Nosy-Boraha District, Analanjirofo, Madagascar
