Betafo

Betafo or Betafó ("many roofs") is a town and urban commune in Vakinankaratra Region, in the Central Highlands of Madagascar that is situated at 22 km from Antsirabe.

For the district, see Betafo District. For the village in Arivonimamo,Itasy, see Betafo, Arivonimamo.
Betafo
fields near Betafo
Betafo
Location in Madagascar
Coordinates: 19°50′24″S 46°51′18″E
Country Madagascar
RegionVakinankaratra
DistrictBetafo District
Elevation
1,410 m (4,630 ft)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total34,336
Time zoneUTC3 (EAT)
Tatamarina Lake in Betafo

The town had an estimated population of 34,336 in 2018 and is the administrative centre of Betafo District.

Geography

Betafo is situated at an altitude of 1,410 metres (4,630 ft) above sea level, in the central highlands of Madagascar. The town lies along the RN34 national road to Miandrivazo, 22 km (14 mi) west of Antsirabe and 191 km (119 mi) from the country's capital, Antananarivo.

Religion

The first Lutheran church in Madagascar was built in Betafo the Norwegian missionaries John Engh et Nils Nielsen in 1867.[1]

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The irrigated rice paddies of the area are emblematic of this technology throughout the Malagasy highlands and were nominated to the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Madagascar in 1997.[3]

References
  1. Betafo
  2. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/ants1.htm
  3. UNESCO. "World Heritage Convention: Madagascar". Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2011.

Sights
  • Tatamarina Lake
  • Antafofo Falls
  • Tombs of Kings of Betafo


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