Vohemar

Province

Vohémar ( malagasy: Vohimarina ) today called Iharana, is one of the larger towns in the same district of the Sava region on the northeast coast of Madagascar, with around 15,000 inhabitants ( 2001).

The coastal city has a seaport and a domestic airport ( Vohimarina Airport, IATA code: VOH, ICAO code: FMHV ).

The nearest major port city of Antsiranana (295 km).

History

Vohémar is of Islamic origin and was perhaps the first part of Madagascar, which was inhabited by Arabs in the 9th and 10th centuries. Muslim tombs from the 17th and 18th centuries were found during excavations in this area. In ruins at Vohémar were also found Egyptian coins from the year 1137, as well as Chinese porcelain, which was introduced in the 15th century in large quantities in Madagascar. In 1598 the town was completely destroyed by the Portuguese. The other branches of the Arabs in the north of Madagascar were also attacked and looted by soldiers of the Portuguese ships that sailed in the waters from 1500.

Personalities who were active in the city

Christian Rutenberg (1851-1878), a German naturalist and ophthalmologist lived from October 1877 in Vohémar. He toured the marshland to the west and the highlands. His scientific collection with some animals and over 600 species of plants from Madagascar arrived after his death to Bremen, among them were a tree frog ( Hyperolius rutenbergi ), two species of spiders and five plant genera and 168 previously unknown species of plants. Some were named after Rutenberg. Rutenberg was murdered on August 25, 1878 Maningoza Reserve from two local carriers, who accompanied him on his excursions.