Canal des Pangalanes

The FCE train ends in Manakara on the east coast of Madagascar.  Manakara has an interesting history.  It is a meeting place where several rivers connecting internal lakes meet.  After the French colonization of the island they invested into building the Canal des Pangalanes.  The canal once served as a major means of transportation using tug boats along the eastern coastline as well as a natural port for the extraordinarily rough tide of that side of the island.  Over the years however, lack of maintenance has doomed the canal which can no longer be used for shipping and the local economy has fallen apart.  Now the residents of Manakara and the surrounding areas use it mainly for fishing and local transport.

Sailing down the canal using old rice bags.  The abandoned warehouses sit behind.

The only place in the world where the boat goes over the bridge.

Fishing off the broken bridge.

A local zebu coming down for a drink.

Eva's one true love; rhum arrangé.

The rowing crew.