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'''Sainte Marie - Nosy Boraha Nosy Ibrahim, Nosim-bavy (Island of women) is the largest amongst the chain of small islands located at the east coast of Madagascar. The island had been known as Isola Santa Maria since the 16th century when it was discovered by the Portuguese. Following their custom, the discoverers gave the name of the saint of the day to the places where they disembarked. They named Madagascar Isola Santa Lorenzo and when they saw Nosy Boraha, they baptised it Isola Santa Maria, a name which was later Gallicised as Sainte Marie when the French settled there in the 17th century.'''

The island had been known as Isola Santa Maria since of Sainte Marie is rich in legends and anecdotes: One early story tells the 16th century, when it tale of a man who while sailing in his pirogue was discovered carried far away by a whale, then miraculously returned to the Portuguese. Following their customisland by a dolphin, the discoverers gave the name a legend reminiscent of the saint story of Jonas and the day to whale. Another presents the places island as an ancient den of pirates and buccaneers from where they disembarked. They named Madagascar Isola Santa Lorenzo and when they saw Nosy Borahasuch famous names as Nathaniel North, David Williams, they baptised it Isola Santa MariaThomas Tew, a name which was later Gallicised as Sainte Marie when La Buse and Plantain operated. By the French settled there in beginning of the 17th 18th century, it was rumored that with their innumerable crews their number reached over a thousand.

The island of Sainte Marie is rich in legends and anecdotes: One early story tells But it was also the tale love nest of a man who while sailing in his pirogue was carried far away by a whaleprincess Betia, then miraculously returned to daughter of the island by a dolphinfamous [[Betsimisaraka]] king Ratsimilaho, a legend reminiscent and of the story of Jonas and French corporal Jean Onésime Filet - nicknamed "the whalewinkle". Another presents The marriage of the island as an ancient den of pirates and buccaneers from where such famous names as Nathaniel Northcouple instigated a major resounding event when, David Williamson her husband's insistence, Thomas Tewthe queen ceded her island to France which thus became French territory in 1750. However, La Buse and Plantain operated. By the beginning island was reintegrated with Madagascar upon the independence of the 18th century it was rumored, that with their innumerable crews their number reached over a thousandcountry.

But it was Thanks to their names the other islands also carry the love nest traces of princess Betia, daughter these various moments of history: [[Ile aux Forbans]] (the famous Betsimisaraka king Ratsimilaho, Corsairs' Island) and of the French corporal Jean Onésime Filet - nicknamed "pirates' cemetery, immortalising the winkle". The marriage memories left by these ocean mercenaries; [[Ilot Madame]], in honour of Madame, the couple instigated daughter of King Louis XV. All this gives a major resounding event when, on her husband's insistence, charm to the queen ceded her island of Sainte Marie, adding to France which thus became French territory in 1750. However, the island was reintegrated with Madagascar upon the independence natural beauty of the countryits sites and beckoning visitors to immerse themselves in a not very distant past - only a few centuries separate us from these events.

Thanks The island of Sainte Marie may seem to their names the have no vovation other islands also carry than that of tourism because nature has so clearly contributed to its becoming a privileged destination; it is now third in the traces list of these various moments places to visit in Madagascar. Indeed, all the elements have come together to make it a prefered destination for holiday makers.  Sainte Marie offers a multiplicity of riches which deserve to be known. First of history: Ile aux Forbans (all there are the Corsairs' Islan) and vestiges of the pirates' cemeterypast, some four or five centuries old, immortalising each having a story to tell to the memories left men of today: The cemeteries are sinister only by these ocean mercenaries; Ilot Madametheir name because they are now only monuments witnessing the dramatic past of this small island, the gravestones being there merely as decorations in honour the landscape, the Fort with its preserved remembrance of Madame, the daughter old French East India Company is a souvenir of King Louis XVa glorious past. All this gives a charm to  But the island of Sainte Marieand its sister islets do not just represent the past. The present is embodied too in its fine sand, adding to its beaches and its many creeks where holiday makers, fleeing from the mist and fogs at home, can tan themselves in the sun at will without being disturbed, whilst communicating with an omnipresent nature for these islands surrounded by water are quite simply a natural beauty garden that the creator has gifted to mankind in order to preserve it: The great species of its sites tropical trees, such as coconut, [[Madagascar clove|clove]], [[Flamboyant Tree|flamboyant trees]], [[jackfruit]] trees, [[Ravinala|travellers palms]] and beckoning visitors to immerse themselves perfumed plants such as [[vanilla]], rare flowers such as anthuriums, grow in a profusion, not very distant past - only in uninhabitated areas but also around the villages. The wide variety of insects is a source of knowledge for researchers. But tourism introduces the unfamiliar in every sense of the term and Sainte Marie can offer this at will because the sea is there rich in the products of the ocean costing a few centuries separate us small fortune under other skies: Lobsters, crabs, oysters, mussels etc. that the chefs in the island's restaurants artfully serve with a coconut sauce.  But what has given a special cachet to Sainte Marie in recent years is the arrival of the humpback whales which come up from the Antarctic to this area during the mating season and give themselves up to unforgettable and very noisy frolicking. Each year from these eventsJune to October they can be observed on the west coast of the island.