Belobaka, Mahajanga II

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Belobaka is a rural municipality in Madagascar, in the Boeny Region and the Mahajanga II district. It is about 11 km from the city of Mahajanga and sits at an elevation of 20 meters. The population was about 12,000 in 2001.

Education is limited to primary school. Mining is an important activity in the area. About 54% of people are farmers. The main crops are rice and cucumber, with maize, cassava, and tomato also grown. Fishing employs about 23% of the people, industry 18%, and services 5%.

Belobaka is made up of nine fokontany (villages): Belobaka, Amparemahitsy, Ampazony (Ampahazony), Ampitolova, Ankazomenavony, Antsaboaka, Antsanitia, Besely, and Ladigy. The village of Besely has Madagascar’s first astronomical observatory, and the asteroid 40201 Besely is named after it.

There are seven caves near Belobaka where fossils of lemurs and hippopotamuses were found; these fossils are displayed at Mozea Akiba, a museum at the University of Mahajanga.

Coordinates: 15°41′S 46°25′E.