Madagascar, which covers an area of about 590,000 km2 (230,000 square miles), is about 1,500 km (940 miles) long and extends from 11 °57′ to 25 °32′ latitude south, forming what is really a small continent. The diversity of types of climate and edaphic conditions means that there are very varied ecological environments and practically the only type missing is very high mountains, as the highest point on the island, the Tsaratanana mountain mass, is only 2,876 metres above sea level.