Tolagnaro (Fort-Dauphin, Madagascar)

Tolagnaro (Tolanaro, aka Fort Dauphin) is an Indian Ocean port city on Madagascar's southeastern coast. It is also the capital of Tolanaro District and Anosy Region. Fort Dauphin port has been of local importance since early-15th century as it was the first French settlement in the country. Port d'Ehola is approx 10 km (6 ml) from Fort-Dauphin. Tolanaro's population is around 46,000.

Tolanaro was initially lying on a narrow, short peninsula but has since grown to cover a greater area, almost to mountain Bezavona (along Indian Ocean). Since the early 1970s, Fort Dauphin suffered an economic decline due to lack of decent road connections to the rest of Madagascar. This rendered the seaport only of local importance, despite the considerable export of live lobster (up to 350 tons annually, between 1990-2005), sapphires and tourism.

Anosy area (around Tolanaro) is undergoing a massive development associated with the new ilmenite mine run by QIT Madagascar Minerals company (subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group / UK-based global mining corporation). The new Port Ehoala (west of Tolagnaro) as well as a variety of mining facilities, housing for mine workers and new road infrastructure have been built at the cost of nearly USD 1 billion. These were the first major investments in the infrastructure of the area for many decades. 

Tolagnaro cruise terminal