Maintirano

Maintirano is a coastal city, commune urbaine (urban municipality), Malagasy: kaominina) and Catholic bishopric in western Madagascar approximately 325 kilometres west of the capital Antananarivo. It belongs to the district of Maintirano, which is a part of Melaky Region – and is capital of both.

Not to be confused with Maintirano District.
Maintirano
Maintirano
Location in Madagascar
Coordinates: 18°4′S 44°1′E
Country Madagascar
RegionMelaky
DistrictMaintirano
Elevation12 m (39 ft)
Population
 (2001)[2]
 • Total16,000
Time zoneUTC3 (EAT)
ClimateAw

The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 16,000 in 2001 commune census.[2] The city is inhabited mainly by the Sakalava tribe.

Since 8 February 2017, its Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of Mary is the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maintirano, a Latin Catholic suffragan bishopric in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Antananarivo.[3]

Economy and infrastructure

The climate is fairly hot and access to the region is difficult due to lack of roads and few commercial flights. Maintirano is served by Maintirano Airport and a local maritime harbour.

In addition to primary schooling the town offers secondary education at both junior and senior levels. A regional centre for distance education (CRTE) of the Centre National de Télé-Enseignement de Madagascar (CNETMAD) is located in Maintirano.

The town has a permanent court and hospital.[2]

The majority 55% of the population works in fishing. 34% are farmers. Main local products include shrimp and beef. The most important crop is bananas, while other important products are maize, sweet potatoes and rice. Industry and services provide employment for 0.8% and 10.2% of the population, respectively.[2]

Climate
Climate data for Maintirano
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 31.1
(88.0)		 31.0
(87.8)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.2
(88.2)		 29.6
(85.3)		 28.0
(82.4)		 27.7
(81.9)		 28.4
(83.1)		 29.4
(84.9)		 30.6
(87.1)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.3
(88.3)		 30.1
(86.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.9
(80.4)		 26.8
(80.2)		 27.0
(80.6)		 26.5
(79.7)		 24.7
(76.5)		 22.9
(73.2)		 22.6
(72.7)		 23.2
(73.8)		 24.5
(76.1)		 25.9
(78.6)		 26.9
(80.4)		 27.1
(80.8)		 25.4
(77.7)
Average low °C (°F) 23.4
(74.1)		 23.5
(74.3)		 23.3
(73.9)		 22.5
(72.5)		 20.3
(68.5)		 18.1
(64.6)		 17.9
(64.2)		 18.4
(65.1)		 19.8
(67.6)		 21.5
(70.7)		 22.6
(72.7)		 23.3
(73.9)		 21.2
(70.2)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 306.3
(12.06)		 288.4
(11.35)		 122.3
(4.81)		 30.7
(1.21)		 9.0
(0.35)		 2.8
(0.11)		 4.7
(0.19)		 3.9
(0.15)		 5.8
(0.23)		 14.7
(0.58)		 49.2
(1.94)		 194.8
(7.67)		 1,032.6
(40.65)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 15 14 9 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 11 63
Mean monthly sunshine hours 238.7 214.4 267.3 291.6 304.2 293.7 299.9 312.3 300.9 321.8 311.6 273.8 3,430.2
Source: NOAA[4]

References and notes
  1. Estimated based on DEM data from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
  2. "ILO census data". Cornell University. 2002. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  3. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/main1.htm
  4. "Maintirano Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 19, 2015.

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