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Madagascar
Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic), is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar.[citation needed] They include the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa, three bird families and six baobab species.
Geography 
At 587,041 km² (226,657.8 sq mi), Madagascar is the world's 46th-largest country and the fourth largest island. It is slightly larger than France and it also is one of 11 distinct physiographic provinces of the South African Platform physiographic division.
Towards the east, a steep escarpment leads from the central highlands down into a ribbon of rain forest with a narrow coastal further east. The Canal des Pangalanes is a chain of natural and man-made lakes connected by canals that runs parallel to the east coast for some 460 km (about two-thirds of the island). The descent from the central highlands toward the west is more gradual, with remnants of deciduous forest and savanna-like plains (which in the south and southwest, are quite dry and host spiny desert and baobabs). On the west coast are many protected harbours, but silting is a major problem caused by sediment from the high levels of erosion inland.
Along the crest of this ridge lie the central highlands, a plateau region ranging in altitude from 2,450 to 4,400 ft (750 to 1350m) above sea level. The central highlands are characterised by terraced, rice-growing valleys lying between barren hills. Here, the red laterite soil that covers much of the island has been exposed by erosion, showing clearly why the country is often referred to as the "Red Island".
The island's highest peak, Maromokotro, at 2,876 m (9,436 ft), is found in the Tsaratanana Massif, located in the far north of the country. The Ankaratra Massif is in the central area south of the capital Antananarivo and hosts the third highest mountain on the island, Tsiafajavona, with an altitude of 2,642 m (8,668 ft). Further south is the Andringitra massif which has several peaks over 2400 m (about 8,000 ft) including the second and fourth highest peaks, Pic Imarivolanitra, more widely known as Pic Boby (8,720 ft, 2,658 m), and Pic Bory (8,626 ft, 2,630 m). Other peaks in the massif include Pic Soaindra (8,594 ft, 2,620 m) and Pic Ivangomena (8,385 ft, 2,556 m). This massif also contains the Andringitra Reserve. On very rare occasions, this region experiences snow in winter due to its high altitude.
There are two seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April, and a cooler, dry season from May to October. South-eastern trade winds predominate, and the island occasionally experiences cyclones.
From: Bernie McClenny, W3UR.... The DX Magazine 2008 Most Wanted Survey is now up and running on the
web site http://www.dxpub.com/dx_survey2008.html.
I would like to stress the need for everyone to submit your needed
countries lists to N4AA, Carl, at The DX Magazine, because this is what
DXpeditioners use to decide where to go. Check each block as necessary to
indicate your needs on the various modes and click SUBMIT at the bottom.
There is also a box at the bottom for comments. Results will be published
in the January/February issue of The DX Magazine. Oh, and please pass this
email to your DX club and DX friends.
2008 DX Magazine Most Wanted Survey
Descheo
Over the past few weeks there has been speculation of an upcoming
operation to Desecheo Island (KP5) to take place in November. This
bulletin is to provide the DX community with the actual facts on what has
been going on and what will possibly happen. Several DX publications were
notified about two months ago that the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) had decided to allow certain amateur radio operators who
have made an inquiry about operating from Desecheo in the recent past an
opportunity to submit a proposal (approximately 20 individuals)
The following information was provided by an "informed source"
to bring everyone up-to-date and explain what events took place:
There is a tentative agreement to facilitate access to the Desecheo Island
National Wildlife Refuge by Amateur Radio operators in conjunction with
future USFWS management activities in the refuge. The plan would allow
Amateur Radio activation of Desecheo for up to 14 days under strict
guidelines and close USFWS supervision. USFWS expects to grant a Special
Use Permit (SUP) for amateur radio operations to one group selected from
among large number of prior applicants. These applicants have recently
been contacted by the agency and provided a number of stringent
requirements that must be met. They were told that if they are still
interested in operating from Desecheo they had 45 days to submit a
proposal. The letter was dated June 30, 2008, with an August 14th
deadline. The final selection will be made based upon which proposal best
satisfies USFWS requirements. The timing of this operation is still
uncertain but is likely to be in the September through December 2008 time
frame. The actual dates of the operation are dependent on a number of
variables, but the team and Dxers should have a minimum of 30 days notice.
We are not sure, but we believe as many as a dozen proposals have been
submitted. Apparently, the final selection will be made by a three person
panel. Continue to remain patient as the selection process proceeds.
Apparently, Dxers worldwide can look forward to the first USFWS-authorized
activation of Desecheo Island in many years.
Glorioso DXpedition Update.
From Didier, F5OGL, team leader Gloriosos 2008-08-13
Hi,
Considering numerous rumours spread by non authorized hams about the dates
of the next Gloriosoe 2008 dxpedition, I think I have to give some
information to avoid any more errors.
On the island, the anti-cyclonics shelters building is nearly finished. The
taking over of the French Army sovereignty personnels and the return of the
building workers will be effective at the end of this month. At the
beginning of September, after the last checkings on the installations,
especially on electricity, all the heavy building gear will be evacuated
from the island.
I am, more than ever in very close contact with the military authorities of
the French Forces for the South zone of the Indian ocean, in the Reunion
Island.
I’ve met the new Head of state Chief warrant officer, before his starting
for his new 3 years assignment to the zone.
He assured me of his entire support and help for this expedition.
The last problems to be solved are about some local logistic , especially
the dates usable for the military planes flights and boats departures, which
schedules haven’t nothing common with commercial ones.
I repeat that all the necessary authorisations are in hand.
Believe us about our will to do a most perfect as possible dxpedition to the
Glorioso. For that, safety first is our goal .
Know if it could be easy to go, the Glorioso rank in the most wanted list
will not be n°4.For another island in the Eparses, Europa 2003, we had to
work several years to prepare it before doing.
All the ham operators are personnels of the French Military Defense and they
have all a professional assignments which have priority over all, included
the Ham radio Dxpedition.
The major risks on the zone doesn’t allow to include civilian ham ops in
the crew.
No date is fixed to day, but I’m doïng all my best to lead Gloriosos 2008
before the end of this year, It must be said that without all combined
elements gathered, I prefer postpone the operations as often as it will be
necessary
I continue to work hard to put the Gloriosos on the air and know that’s
not very easy.
73's QRO
Didier F5OGL - Glorieuses 2008 leader
Glorioso DXpedition website HERE
VU4 / VU7 - Another Chance...
The National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) will be
celebrating its "Silver Jubilee" in Hyderabad, India, between
October 18-20th 2008. To help celebrate this event, look for
some special amateur radio activities to take place between October 24th
and November 3rd from many Indian locations which will include operations
from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (VU4) and Lakshadweep Islands
(VU7). NIAR will be assisting foreign amateurs in regard to reciprocal
licenses or operation permits for the VU4 and VU7 activations.
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To receive details about license requirements, fill out the registration
form at: http://www.niar.org/sj/form.html
More information is available at: http://www.niar.org/sj/index.htm
ZS8T is on Marion Island
Petrus will be on Marion Island for a year. Although he got there in April, he has been too busy for amateur radio operations yet. The great news is he will have an Icom IC-7000, an Ameritron AL80B Amp, a Spiderbeam, A Steppir vertical and a Bencher paddle. Maybe my dreams of a CW contact with ZS8 will be fulfilled.
On 21st August, the ZS guys assisting Petrus issued news update number 3. It basically said they have been unable to contact Petrus for two months, and they don't know why he has not been active on the bands yet. The full text is on his web page linked below.
ZS8T web page HERE
3YØE web page HERE
Excel Spreadsheet by Jari, OH2BU - The "Mega DX Peditions Honor Roll".
MEGA DX PEDITIONS HONOR ROLL. Jari, OH2BU, has put together and maintained an interesting Excel spreadsheet over the last 12 years called - The "Mega DX Peditions Honor Roll". This Honor Roll listing currently includes data of 114 DXpeditions that have worked 30,000 or more QSOs since 1979. This unique listing includes data on:
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A summary on the DXpedition (dates, length, QSOs, stations..etc.)
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Information on Logs, Web site, QSL routes and if it is in LoTW
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List of operators of the DXpedition
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QSO statistics per continents, modes and bands
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Also continental, band and mode records
The whole purpose of this listing is to
help future DXpeditions in planning their next operation, and to
understand the possibilities in making QSOs to different continents and to
optimize their efforts.
The LSDXA would like to thank Jari for permission to reproduce his amazing
spreadsheet on this site. Please Click on the "Files" link in
our menu to access it.
Current DX Cluster Spots - updated every 30 secs.
The Netherlands Antilles was to be disbanded on December 15, 2008. This
dissolution is still planned, but has been postponed to an indefinite
future date However, they still hope to have this completed by 1/1/2010. The
idea of the Netherlands Antilles as a state never enjoyed full support of
all islands. Political relations between islands were often strained.
After a long struggle, Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in
1986, to form its own state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The
desire for secession has also been strong in Sint Maarten. I'm sure the following will never count for DXCC, but it's interesting to see
who can declare independence......
Possible DXCC changes
When this site was updated