Zahamena
The Zahamena National Park, created in 1997, is located on the eastern part of the island, 70km northwest of Tamatave and about 25 km east from Lake Alaotra. The protected area has a total surface of 643 km², from which 423 belong to the National Park, and the rest is catalogued as Integral Natural Reserve and therefore not opened to visitors. Although the isolated location of this area has helped to its conservation, the actual human pressure of the Sihanaka and Betsimisaraka populations constitutes the main threat to Zahamena. The climate is humid, with moderate temperatures and showers all year around.