Ilakaka saphir mines

• Madagascar
• Ilakaka

Description

Ilakaka in the centre of the arid, southern plains of Madagascar is a product of an explosion in Sapphire discovery and trade. In 1998 this sleepy town had a population of 40 villagers but now numbers close 60,000. Labourers have migrated in from across Madagascar and traders from around the globe.
Sapphire was discovered in southern Madagascar in the late 1990s.
In recent years, Ilakaka has fallen on hard times as all easily-mined sapphire fields have been picked clean, and the remaining miners often work in deep holes, climbing far underground.