Mahajanga, formerly Majunga, town in northwestern Madagascar, capital of Mahajanga Province, on Bombetoka Bay, an inlet of Mozambique Channel, at the mouth of the Betsiboka River. The second largest port of Madagascar, the town of Mahajanga is a road terminus and trade center that exports sugar, coffee, spices, cassava (manioc), vegetable oils, timber, and vanilla. Industries include meat processing; fishing; sugar, rice, fiber, and vegetable-oil milling; sawmilling; and the manufacture of soap, cement, paper, tallow, bags, and rum. Mahajanga also has machine shops, and the surrounding area abounds in extensive coffee plantations. The city is the site of a teachers college, technical schools, a cotton-research institute, and a municipal stadium. Mahajanga was founded by Arabs about 1700. Population (1993) 100,807.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Mahajanga Information info
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