Ilakaka: sapphire boomtown on the RN7

Where: East Africa & Indian Ocean · Africa · approx. -22.69, 45.2 (vicinity only)

Why this spot: Rockhounding locality: one of Earth's largest alluvial sapphire deposits, found 1998; a village of 40 people became a Wild West town of tens of thousands, and Madagascar became the world's top sapphire exporter

What turns up: pink and blue sapphire rough at dealer tables (buy small, expect fakes), eyes-only: hand-dug shaft fields, gravel washing in the river

Access: Gray area.

Pits are informal or small-licensed claims, foreigners cannot dig; visiting the workings is tolerated with a local guide, and buying stones is routine but export of significant gems legally requires paperwork most street deals do not provide

Satellite view, historic-map overlays, tide/flow context and field notes are in the app. Exact research detail is part of Pro.