Ilakaka

One of the world's largest known alluvial sapphire deposits was discovered in the Ilakaka river valley in 1998, transforming what had been a tiny settlement of around 40 people into a boomtown almost overnight. Located in Madagascar's Ihorombe Region, Ilakaka retains the raw, frontier character of an open-pit mining town, with a modest central core of cafés and restaurants. Violence tied to the high-stakes gem trade is a documented feature of daily life here.

• Nearest water from center 10 km6.5 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 5.5 km3.4 mi