The Caves and Cliffs of Isandra are located in the Betsileo

Betsileo

The Betsileo are a highland ethnic group of Madagascar, the third largest in terms of population, numbering around 1.5 million and making up about 12.1 percent of the population. Their name means "The Many Invincible Ones" which they chose for themselves after the failed invasion of Ramitraho...

 cultural region of Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

, roughly 30 km to the northwest of the regional capital of Fianarantsoa

Fianarantsoa

Fianarantsoa is a city in south central Madagascar.Fianarantsoa is the capital of Haute Matsiatra Region. It was built in the early 19th century by the Merina as the administrative capital for the newly conquered Betsileo kingdoms....

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Site Description

The site consists of a large granite North-South cliff face, which has been eroded over millions of years. Through landslides, granite blocks pile up at the base of the cliffs and create open spaces or "caves". During the 17th and 18th Centuries, due to the defensive possibilities created by the caves and heavy rocks, inhabitants occupied many of the caves and fortified them with walls of stone and mortar.

World Heritage Status

This site was added to the Tentative List of UNESCO

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 World Heritage Sites in Madagascar on November 14, 1997 in the Mixed (Cultural + Natural) category.