Antananarivo ( or ; ), formerly French
Tananarive ( or ; ), also known by its
French colonial shorthand form
Tana, is the
capital and largest city in
Madagascar. The larger urban area surrounding the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra ("Antananarivo-Mother Hill" or "Antananarivo-Capital"), is the capital of
Analamanga region. The city is located above the sea level in the center of the island, and has been the island's largest population center since at least the 18th century.