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Where in the World is the Forest of Knives?
Where one cannot walk barefoot
This week’s “Where is the World” location is somewhere a bit more dangerous. This deadly forest of limestone needles lies in the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park on the African island of Madagascar.
Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island, home to the incredibly rare and immensely cute, ring-tailed lemurs, and the location highlighted in one of the best animated movies ever, Madagascar (obviously).
The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park lies in the Melaky region in west-central Madagascar. It is made up of two geological formations, the Great Tsingy and the Little Tsingy. Together, along with the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Tsingy” translates to “where one cannot walk barefoot”, and perfectly describes this partially menacing landscape. It dazzles with its assorted geological structures, mangrove forests, and various endangered species. Its prized spectacle, however, is the formation of towering limestone needles, some reaching heights of 328 feet.