Translate

Monday, February 22, 2010

Oman & Madagascar; Cancer & Capricorn

Flag of Oman

Oman and Madagascar are two nations tied to East Africa. So close yet separate. The roots of there civilizations reside in Asia.

Madagascar is a huge island just off the coast of East Africa and is the melting-pot mosaic of the Indian Ocean with heritages from Indonesia, India, Arabia (Oman), and Africa. But it was the latecomers, the French who snookered control in the end, yet they too would surrender control to the 'natives.'

Flag of Madagascar
Oman and Madagascar are the only flag-pair that are geographically aligned with the two tropic lines of the hemispheres. Oman lies along the North Indian Ocean along the Tropic of Cancer, while Madagascar lies in the South Indian Ocean along the Tropic of Capricorn.

During the longest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun directly above the Tropic of Cancer. Around June 21, usually.

And during the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, the sun is straight up directly above the Tropic of Capricorn. Around December 21, usually.

These lands are sunny and bright with a patriotic wave of red, green and white!

1 comment: