The red island

Madagascar, off East Africa, is one of the largest islands in the world. It is nicknamed the red island, for the colour of its iron-rich soils.

Earth-coloured rivers

From space, the island tells the story of its erosion: the rains wash away the red earth of the hills, and the rivers carry it to the Indian Ocean. On the north-west coast, the Betsiboka river draws a delta of ochre and red waters in the bay of Bombetoka, near Mahajanga.

A unique landscape

Between the highlands, the forests, the mangroves and the reefs, Madagascar offers colours seen nowhere else, which make magnificent images from above.

Your turn

The "Create your image here" button opens the creation on the bay of Bombetoka: the Satellite rendering reveals the colours of the river and the ocean.