], officially Republic of Madagascar, republic (2005 est. pop. 18,040,000), 226,658 sq mi (587,045 sq km), in the Indian Ocean, separated from E Africa by the Mozambique Channel. Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island. The country also claims several small islands including the French possessions of Juan de Nova Island
, Europa Island
, the Glorioso Islands
, Tromelin Island
, and Bassas da India
. The capital and largest city is Antananarivo
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