Lake Anosy is an artificial heart-shaped lake in the south of the city, created by damming a marshy valley in the early twentieth century during French colonial rule. A small island at its centre holds the Monument aux Morts, a war memorial built in 1927 to honour Malagasy soldiers who died in the First World War, connected to the shore by a narrow footbridge. In October, the avenues surrounding the lake erupt in violet jacaranda blossom — one of the most photographed scenes in all of Antananarivo.
The lakeside promenade is a quiet counterpoint to the chaos of central Tana. Locals jog or stroll its perimeter in the early mornings and evenings; vendors sell snacks from small carts. The French Embassy and several government buildings face the lake, giving the area a faintly formal character. It is most rewarding at dusk when the water reflects the fading sky and the city's ridge-top houses light up above the trees.