# Vohemar

> city in Madagascar

**Wikidata**: [Q218954](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q218954)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vohemar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vohemar

## Summary

Vohemar is a city and commune located in the Sava Region of northern Madagascar, situated at coordinates 13.375°S, 50.01°E along the island's eastern coast. With a population of approximately 15,000 people as of 2001, it serves as a significant urban center within Vohemar District and operates on UTC+03:00 time zone. The city is known by multiple names including Vohimarina, Iharan̈a, and Iharana, and functions as a commune of Madagascar with substantial international digital presence across 18 Wikipedia language editions.

## Key Facts

- **Classification**: City, commune of Madagascar
- **Location**: Vohemar District, Sava Region, Madagascar
- **Coordinates**: 13.375°S latitude, 50.01°E longitude
- **Population**: 15,000 (2001 census data)
- **Timezone**: UTC+03:00
- **Freebase ID**: /m/0c71cf
- **Geonames ID**: 1064311
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -213720
- **Yale LUX ID**: place/4e44053f-f2da-4d79-9ad0-6822891eb220
- **Who's On First ID**: 421189379
- **Wikipedia Sitelink Count**: 252
- **Wikipedia Languages**: 18 editions including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Polish, and Malagasy
- **Wikimedia Commons Category**: Vohemar
- **Featured Image**: Vohemar, port et plage.jpg (Vista de la comuna)
- **Distinct from**: Vohemar District (separate administrative entity)
- **Aliases**: Vohimarina, Iharan̈a, Iharana, Vohemar

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Vohemar?**
Vohemar is classified as both a city and a commune of Madagascar, functioning as an urban center within the larger Vohemar District in the Sava Region of northern Madagascar.

**Where exactly is Vohemar located?**
Vohemar is situated on the eastern coast of Madagascar at coordinates 13.375° south latitude and 50.01° east longitude, in the northern portion of the island within the Sava Region.

**What is the population of Vohemar?**
Vohemar had a population of approximately 15,000 residents according to 2001 census data from the International Labour Organization.

**How is Vohemar different from Vohemar District?**
Vohemar city is distinct from Vohemar District, which is the larger administrative unit containing the city. The city represents the urban center while the district encompasses a broader geographic area.

**What languages have Wikipedia articles about Vohemar?**
Vohemar has Wikipedia articles in 18 languages including Cebuano, German, English, Spanish, Persian, French, Hausa, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Malagasy, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Chinese, and Zulu.

**What is Vohemar's relationship to other geographic identifiers?**
Vohemar is registered in multiple geographic databases including Geonames (ID 1064311), Freebase (/m/0c71cf), and the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (GNS unique feature ID -213720).

## Why It Matters

Vohemar represents an important regional center in northern Madagascar despite its relatively modest population, serving as an urban hub within the Sava Region. The city's significance is amplified by its international digital presence, with Wikipedia articles available in 18 languages indicating sustained interest from global audiences. Its location on Madagascar's eastern coast positions it within one of the island nation's most geographically diverse regions. The distinction between Vohemar as a city/commune and Vohemar District reflects the complex administrative structure of Madagascar, and understanding this separation is crucial for governance, resource allocation, and regional planning. The multiple historical names—Vohimarina, Iharan̈a, and Iharana—suggest deep cultural roots and potential historical significance that may warrant further academic investigation.

## Notable For

- International digital presence with 252 Wikipedia sitelinks across 18 language editions
- Multiple historical and alternative names documenting linguistic evolution
- Representation in major geographic knowledge bases including Freebase, Geonames, and Getty GNIS
- Featured image in Wikimedia Commons documenting urban and coastal landscape
- Clear administrative distinction from parent district, demonstrating Madagascar's structured governance system

## Body

### Geography and Location

Vohemar is positioned on the eastern coastline of Madagascar at coordinates 13.375° south latitude and 50.01° east longitude. The city lies within the Sava Region, one of Madagascar's 22 regions, and serves as the administrative center of Vohemar District. The eastern coastal location places the city along the Indian Ocean, contributing to its port and beach infrastructure visible in the Wikimedia Commons photograph titled "Vohemar, port et plage." The timezone observed is UTC+03:00, consistent with eastern African time standards.

### Administrative Structure

Vohemar functions as a commune of Madagascar, which represents a specific administrative classification within the country's decentralized governance system. It is distinct from Vohemar District, the larger territorial unit that contains the city. This hierarchical structure—region, district, commune—reflects Madagascar's administrative organization where communes represent urban or rural administrative divisions below the district level. The city's classification as both a "city" and "commune" indicates its urban status within the broader district framework.

### Demographics

The population of Vohemar was recorded at approximately 15,000 residents according to 2001 census data. This figure, sourced from the International Labour Organization's database, represents the most recent documented population count for the municipality. The population figure positions Vohemar as a medium-sized urban center within the context of Malagasy cities, which range from small rural communes to major metropolitan areas like Antananarivo.

### Nomenclature and Naming

Vohemar is known by several names and spellings that reflect its historical development and linguistic heritage. The primary name "Vohemar" appears in most contemporary administrative and digital references. Alternative names include Vohimarina, Iharan̈a, and Iharana. The variation in spellings, particularly the diacritical marks in Iharan̈a, suggests origins in the Malagasy language or potentially earlier colonial naming conventions. These multiple names appear in various database entries and Wikipedia articles across different language editions.

### Digital Knowledge Representation

Vohemar has substantial representation across major linked data and knowledge graph platforms. The Wikidata entry describes it simply as "city in Madagascar" and maintains a sitelink count of 252, indicating extensive cross-referencing with Wikipedia projects. The Freebase identifier /m/0c71cf connects it to Google's former knowledge graph, while the Geonames ID 1064311 links it to the Geographic Names Information System. The Yale LUX ID and Who's On First ID provide additional academic and geographic database references. The GNS Unique Feature ID is -213720, assigned by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

### Wikimedia Commons Documentation

The city is documented through a featured image titled "Vohemar, port et plage.jpg" with the qualifier "Vista de la comuna" (View of the commune) in Spanish. This image is stored in Wikimedia Commons and accessible via the direct file path. The Commons category "Vohemar" likely contains additional media documenting the city's landscape, architecture, and daily life.

### International Wikipedia Presence

Vohemar maintains a presence across 18 Wikipedia language editions, demonstrating international interest in this Malagasy city. The available articles span multiple language families: Cebuano (a Philippine language), German, English, Spanish, Persian, French, Hausa (a West African language), Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Malagasy (the national language of Madagascar), Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Chinese, Japanese, and Zulu (a Southern African language). This linguistic breadth suggests the city has captured attention from researchers, travelers, and diaspora communities across diverse regions.

### Historical Context

While the source material does not provide specific founding dates or historical events, the multiple names—Vohimarina, Iharan̈a, Iharana—suggest a historical evolution of the city's identity. The progression from potentially indigenous names through colonial influences to the contemporary "Vohemar" reflects broader patterns of Malagasy urban development. The commune classification system in Madagascar was formalized during various administrative reforms, though specific dates for Vohemar's establishment as a commune are not documented in the provided material.

### Regional Significance

Within the Sava Region, Vohemar serves as an administrative and economic center for its district. The region is known for its biodiversity, vanilla production, and strategic coastal position. The city's port facilities, visible in photographic documentation, suggest a role in regional trade and transportation along Madagascar's eastern seaboard. The distinction between the city proper and the district allows for focused urban governance while maintaining broader regional coordination.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [Source](http://www.ilo.cornell.edu/ilo/data.html)
3. GeoNames