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Ivy is the researcher and writer behind The African Gourmet, blending African food, history, and cultural storytelling. Her archive work is cited by universities, Wikipedia, major news outlets, and global food writers.

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Madagascar's 62 Mile High Razor Spiked Forest

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📁 Wildlife of Africa

Madagascar's 62 mile high Tsingy Razor Spiked Forest is over 200 million years old and was once covered by the sea.

The Tsingy Razor Spiked Forest, also known as the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, was first discovered by Western explorers in the 20th century. The park is located in western Madagascar and covers an area of around 1,575 square kilometers. 

The unique razor-spiked limestone formations found in the park were created over millions of years through a process of erosion and sedimentation. The area was once covered by a shallow sea, and over time the buildup of dead marine organisms created a thick layer of limestone. The limestone was then gradually eroded by rainwater and other natural forces, creating the distinctive razor-sharp peaks and gorges that can be seen in the park today. 

The Tsingy Razor Spiked Forest is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. The park is particularly famous for its lemurs, with 11 different species living in the area, including the Decken's sifaka and the crowned lemur. 

The park is also home to numerous bird species, reptiles, and insects, as well as a variety of plant life, including baobab trees and orchids. The age of the Tsingy Razor Spiked Forest is difficult to determine with precision, but geological evidence suggests that the limestone formations were formed during the Jurassic period, around 200 million years ago.

The minuscule chameleon, which is less than an inch long from nose to tail and can sit on a human thumbnail, lives in Madagascar's 62 mile high Tsingy Razor Spiked Forest.
Tsingy forest

The Tsingy limestone forest is a unique geological formation located inside the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in Madagascar. 

The term tsingy refers to the sharp, pointed limestone formations that are found in this area. These formations are formed through a process called karstification, which involves the dissolution of limestone over time due to the effects of water and acidic substances. The Tsingy limestone forest is characterized by its jagged peaks, deep gorges, and interconnecting canyons. 

The area is also home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, many of which are endemic to Madagascar. Some of the unique species found in the Tsingy limestone forest include the Decken's sifaka, a type of lemur, and the Madagascar fish eagle. The forest is known for its challenging terrain, with steep cliffs and narrow crevices that require special equipment and techniques to navigate. 

Tsingy de Bemaraha is a Strict Nature Reserve since 1927. Strict Nature Reserves are protected areas set aside for nature conservation and research established by law on government-owned lands. Tsingy is located in the Melaky Region of Mahajanga Madagascar on 375,600 acres or 152,000 hectares of land. 

During the Late Cretaceous Period, India broke away from Madagascar. Madagascar is around 587,041 sq km or 226,657 sq miles in size which is the world's fourth-largest island.  Madagascar’s isolation in the Indian Ocean is the reason 90% of its animal and plant life is found only on its island. There are well over 70 varieties of lemur, 30 types of chameleons and countless undiscovered plant species. Madagascar was one of the last major regions on earth colonized. 

Tsingy limestone forest inside Tsingy de Bemaraha has 62 miles or 100-meter tall razor spiked limestone hills which are dotted in-between with sinkholes, caves, the deep red-orange Manambolo River. According to UNESCO, 11 species of Lemur; 6 bird species; 2 amphibian species; 17 reptile species as well as a species of rodent, the Red Forest Rat, only exists in the Tsingy de Bemaraha reserve of Madagascar. Due to its unique geological features and biodiversity, the Tsingy limestone forest was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990. 

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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
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