Tsingy de Bemaraha

Tsingy de Bemaraha lies in western Madagascar, in the Melaky region. Its name refers to the sharp limestone pinnacles that dominate the terrain. The landscape includes a deeply dissected limestone massif, narrow crevices and gorges, with patches of vegetation occupying sheltered places among the rock formations.

The pinnacles are a karst landform: water gradually dissolves carbonate rock and enlarges cracks into fissures, grooves and cavities. The limestone of the Bemaraha massif formed from marine deposits during the Middle Jurassic. Over time, dissolution and erosion sculpted the exposed rock into a rugged field of blades and needles. The International Union of Geological Sciences describes some pinnacles as rising to about 100 metres and identifies the area as an example of notable geomorphology and active geological processes.

The fissured limestone creates a complex karst drainage system. The International Union of Geological Sciences describes the massif as an important regional water store. In the wider protected landscape, caves, cliffs and forested areas provide varied habitats. UNESCO notes that the western Madagascar karst and limestone uplands support rare and threatened lemurs and birds, alongside endemic plants.

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1990. UNESCO’s current Andrefana Dry Forests property incorporates the Bemaraha reserve as part of a larger serial protected landscape in western Madagascar. This broader recognition reflects both the exceptional karst scenery and the conservation value of the surrounding ecosystems.