Tamatave (Toamasina)

Tamatave (Toamasina) is the second largest city in Madagascar with an estimated 2005 population around 200,568 people. Under French colonial rule Tamatave was a major port.

In the political turmoil of 2002 Tamatave was the headquarters for former dictator Didier Ratsiraka. Ratsiraka fled in exile to France in July of that year.

According to the Bradt guide, one theory for the origin of the name Toamasina (the Malagasy name for Tamatave) is that "King Radama I tasted the seawater ... and remarked 'Toa masina' - 'It's salty.'"

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