The first documentation of a human settlement in the lake region goes back to the 16th century, when the Sihanaka, an ethnic group, migrated from the east-coast region. Mahakary was probably the first village built up by the Sihanaka. From this village, the Sihanaka dispersed to populate the rest of the lake borders. At the beginning of the 19th century, the region came under the ascendancy of the Hova (one of the three castes of Merina).

Today a few historical relicts are found around the lake, as for example the house of the military-commandant in Immerimandrozo at the north-eastern end of the Lake Alaotra. Both ethnic groups make their living from fishing (mainly Sihanakas) and agriculture. In agriculture, the use of the angady is still common (these are traditional hand-hoes from the Merina, which were the first tribe to acquire knowledge of metal processing in Madagascar).

Andreba (about 20 km north of Ambatondrazaka), which is part of the political commune of Ambatosoratra with a total of 5,000 habitants, is a typical village of this region: the population is composed mainly of Sihanakas and Merinas. Most men are fishermen; women work in the fields for harvesting, or sell agricultural (especially rice) or fishery products in and around the market-hall in the centre of the village. Although there is still a strong believe in ancestors and furthermore, fomba and fadys (commandments and taboos) are still respected, most of the habitants are members of one of the two Christian churches in the village.

Because there is no electricity in the village, activities start before sunrise, when the first Zebus are led out of the village for grazing and when a haze begins to cover the village (charcoal is the main fuel for cooking). Village activities end after dusk.

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