TOLIARA

also spelled Toliary, formerly Tular town, southwestern Madagascar. The town is a port on Saint-Augustin Bay of the Mozambique Channel and serves as the outlet for the agricultural products of the hinterland. It also ships marine products, processes sisal, produces soap and food products, and has a livestock-breeding station and an experimental agriculture station. In April 1971 Toliara was the site of an armed uprising, which was quickly suppressed. The surrounding area is drained by the Tsiribihina, Mangoky, and Onilahy rivers, as well as by many smaller streams that flow directly to the coast. Beaches and resort centres line the northern and southeastern parts of the coast. There are deposits of coal, mica, copper, and gold; and there is some lumbering in the southeast. Cattle are raised, and rice and other crops are grown. Besides Toliara, major population centres are Tlanaro and Morondava. Pop. (1993 prelim.) 71,277.