Madagascar
Tsingy de Bemaraha
In western Madagascar, rainwater slowly carved a huge limestone plateau into a maze of tall, sharp rock pinnacles called tsingy. Forests and unusual wildlife grow among the stone towers.
Why is it famous?
The word tsingy describes the sharp, needle-like limestone rocks that make this place look like a stone forest.
This protected landscape is home to many plants and animals found only in Madagascar.
How was it formed?
The rocks began as limestone under an ancient sea.
After the land rose, rainwater slowly dissolved cracks in the limestone, shaping tall pinnacles and deep paths over a very long time.
Amazing facts
Some limestone pinnacles rise as high as a 30-story building.
The park includes both dry forest and riverside forest.
Quick facts
- Some limestone pinnacles rise as high as a 30-story building.
- The park includes both dry forest and riverside forest.
- Lemurs and many other animals live in the forest among the rocks.
- Tsingy de Bemaraha became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990.