Madagascar is situated between 12 and 25° of south latitude , it has an essentially tropical climate .One can observe different microclimates created by its elongated form and the great number of unevenness . One distinguishes four great climatical zones and two very distinct types of climates :

The East of Madagascar is extremely watered . The trade winds of the South East brings during the whole year hot and humid masses of air. The backbone that spreads from the north to the south , a hundred of kilometers from the oriental coast on almost all the length of the island ,is an obstacle to the clouds . The air that climbs cools and loses its humidity by falling in the form of rain . The average temperature exceeds here 20° celsius .

The West and the South West of Madagascar are submitted to a dry climate, even very dry . The South West receives only 400 to 500 mm of rain per year , while the average temperature does not descend below 24° celcius.

Each year, the North and the South are threatened by cyclones provoking abundant precipitations . The annual averages are 24° celcius in the South and 26° celcius in the North .

The Highlands know a relatively fresh climate because of the altitude .During the fresh season that lasts from June to August , it happens that it may freeze from time to time in mountains . The annual average varies between 16 and 18° celcius.

The two types of climate :the Summer : October to April : that corresponds to the humid and hot season and the winter : May to September that corresponds to the dry and fresh season .

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