Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island, located about 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. It is about 1,000 miles in length and about 360 miles at its largest width. There are 13 million people living in Madagascar, and their genetic background is as diverse as their eating habits and language. Their heritage is a combination of Indonesian, Malayan, Polynesian, Swahili, Arabic, French and English, while Malagasy and French are the two main languages spoken. Madagascar was colonized by France, but won its independence in 1960.