Antsiranana

{{Short description|City in Diana, Madagascar}} {{Redirect|Diego-Suarez||Diego Suarez (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox settlement    |name =  |official_name = Antsiranana |nickname = Diego Suarez |settlement_type =  |total_type =  |motto =  |image_skyline = Antsiranana Diego Suarez typical Arab-influenced architecture Madagascar.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = Antsiranana |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = Antsiranana.png |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = 100px |map_caption = Location of Antsiranana in Madagascar |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map =Madagascar  |pushpin_label_position =  |pushpin_map_caption =Location of Antsiranana in Madagascar |pushpin_mapsize =  |subdivision_type =Country |subdivision_name = {{Flag|Madagascar}} |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = Diana Region |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 =  |seat_type = |seat = |parts_type = |parts_style =  |parts =  |p1 = |p2 =   |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |established_title =  |established_date =  |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 71.9 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent =  |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |elevation_max_m = |elevation_max_ft = |elevation_min_m = |elevation_min_ft =  |population_as_of =2018 census |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total =129320 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi =  |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coor_type =  |coordinates = {{coord|12|18|S|49|17|E|region:MG|display=inline}} |blank_name = Climate |blank_info = Aw  |postal_code_type = Postal code |postal_code = 201 |area_code = |website = |footnotes = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 10 | mapframe-wikidata = yes }}

'''Antsiranana''' ({{langx|mg|Antsiranana}} {{IPA|mg|antsʲˈraŋanə̥}}), named '''Diego-Suarez''' prior to 1975, is a city in the far north of Madagascar. Antsiranana is the capital of Diana Region. It had an estimated population of 115,015 in 2013.<ref>Institut National de la Statistique, Antananarivo.</ref>

==History== At the beginning of the 16th century, a Portuguese squadron of 13 ships crisscrossed the Indian Ocean. One of these ships went adrift, and its captain, Diogo Dias, was therefore the first European to discover the island on August 10, 1500, which he named Isle of Saint Lawrence.<ref name="Revista">{{cite web| title =Romance de Diogo Soares e Martim Afonso | url =https://revista.brasil-europa.eu/154/Diego-Suarez_Martim_Afonso.html | website =Revista Brasil-Europa | date =2015 | access-date =7 May 2025 }}</ref> In February 1506, Admiral Fernão Soares recognized the place and so Antomabokala, former capital of Ankarana, acquired its name of Diego Suarez (Diogo Soares, in Portuguese), which comes from the junction of the first name of the captain and the surname of the Admiral.<ref name="Revista"/> In 1635, the bay was mentioned for the first time under this name by the French pilot Berthelot, author of an oriental map of Africa and Madagascar. In 1824, the bay was explored by the English hydrographer Owen, then in 1833, Captain Bigeault, commandant of La Nièvre, traveled the North East coast to carry out hydrographic surveys.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

In the 1880s, the bay was coveted by France, which desired it as a coaling station for steamships. After the first Franco-Hova War, Queen Ranavalona III signed a treaty on December 17, 1885, granting France a protectorate over the bay and surrounding territory, as well as the islands of Nossi-Bé and Ste. Marie de Madagascar.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

The French took possession of their new colony and the Bay of Diego Suarez (also called ''Bay of Antomboko'' at that time).{{cn|date=December 2024}} It was then called ''Etablissement français de Diego-Suarez'' (French Establishment of Diego-Suarez) and was placed under the command of Frigate captain Caillet who is the founder of the city of Diego Suarez.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

The first barracks were built at Cap Diego. The first habitants of the new colony were Creoles from Réunion and Mauritius, as well as from the French possession of Toamasina, Nosy Be, Ile Sainte-Marie, Mayotte and Mahajanga.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Run away slaves (Makoas), Antankarana and Sakalava made up another big part of the population. In 1886, the colony had a population of 2500 habitants.{{cn|date=December 2024}} In 1887, a civil governor, Froger, replaced Caillet. In 1888, Nossi-Bé and Sainte Marie de Madagascar were attached to the colony.<ref>[https://lexpress.mg/11/08/2023/une-nouvelle-colonie-francaise-est-nee-dans-le-nord/ Une nouvelle Colonie française est née dans le Nord]</ref> thumb|left|Cathedral of Antsiranana In 1900, the Decauville railway at Diégo Suarez was built.<ref>[https://latribune.cyber-diego.com/histoire/698-histoire-a-toute-vapeur-dans-la-campagne-les-locos-de-diego-suarez-2.html La Tribune de Diego: Histoire : A toute vapeur dans la campagne : les locos de Diego Suarez]</ref> The Second Pacific Squadron of Imperial Russia anchored and was resupplied at Diego-Suarez on its way to the Battle of Tsushima in 1905.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

On 21 March 1909, the first bricks of the cathedral were laid down. In 1919 there was an epidemics of the Spanish flu followed by an outbreak of the plague in 1920.<ref>[https://latribune.cyber-diego.com/histoire.html History of Diego Suarez]</ref> Still, in 1925 the Province de Diego-Suarez had 13695 habitants.

[[File:Ships in harbour at Diego Suarez.jpg|thumb|left|Warships and British merchant ships in the Antsiranana harbour after the French had surrendered on 13 May 1942.]]

In 1942, Diego-Suarez was the primary objective of Operation Ironclad, the starting point of the Allied invasion and capture of Madagascar. The Allies were concerned that Japan would pressure Vichy France into granting use of Madagascar, as they had with French Indo-China during the previous year, and determined that the island should not be made a base for the interception of Allied shipping. Diego-Suarez, with its superb harbour and a concentration of government officials, was selected as the initial invasion point. The Japanese responded with an attack by midget submarines on the British naval forces in the harbour, damaging the battleship {{HMS|Ramillies|07|6}} and sinking the oil tanker ''British Loyalty''.<ref>Wilson, Michael; (2000), A Submariners War; Stroud, Tempus. {{ISBN|0-7524-3276-1}}</ref>

France continued to operate a military base in the city following Malagasy independence in 1960.{{cn|date=December 2024}} Between 1973 and 1975, French forces were withdrawn.

==Postage stamps== {{Main|Postage stamps and postal history of Diego-Suárez}}

== Education == thumb|Lycée Français Sadi-Carnot The University of Antsiranana was founded in 1976.

Lycée Français Diego Suarez, or Lycée Français Sadi-Carnot, is a French international school in Antsiranana. Historically it was the Collège français Sadi Carnot.<ref>"[http://lfds.mg/ Accueil]." Lycée Français Diego Suarez. Retrieved on 7 May 2015.</ref><ref>"[http://www.aefe.fr/reseau-scolaire-mondial/rechercher-un-etablissement/madagascar-antsiranana-lycee-francais-sadi Lycée français Sadi-Carnot]." AEFE. Retrieved on May 7, 2015.</ref>

==Transport== thumb|left|Container ship in Antsiranana harbour Antsiranana is situated on Antsiranana Bay, one of the largest deep-water harbours in the Indian Ocean, but the remote location, and, until recently, a bad road to the south, rendered it unimportant for freight traffic. There is a cruise port with periodic visits.

Arrachart Airport provides communication primarily with other parts of Madagascar.

== Geography == === Climate === Antsiranana has a tropical savannah climate (Aw) with long, hot summer-like weather that lasts year round cut into two seasons; a wet season which lasts from December to March and a dry season which lasts the rest of the year with rainfall being uncommon but not impossible. {{Weather box |location = Antsiranana (1991–2020, extremes 1941–present) |single line = Yes |metric first = Yes |Jan record high C = 36.6 |Feb record high C = 34.6 |Mar record high C = 34.8 |Apr record high C = 35.0 |May record high C = 33.6 |Jun record high C = 33.0 |Jul record high C = 33.0 |Aug record high C = 33.0 |Sep record high C = 33.5 |Oct record high C = 37.0 |Nov record high C = 38.0 |Dec record high C = 39.0 |year record high C = 39.0 |Jan high C = 31.1 |Feb high C = 30.7 |Mar high C = 31.1 |Apr high C = 31.6 |May high C = 31.0 |Jun high C = 29.7 |Jul high C = 29.2 |Aug high C = 29.4 |Sep high C = 30.1 |Oct high C = 31.1 |Nov high C = 32.1 |Dec high C = 32.1 |year high C = |Jan mean C = 27.1 |Feb mean C = 26.8 |Mar mean C = 27.1 |Apr mean C = 27.1 |May mean C = 26.4 |Jun mean C = 25.0 |Jul mean C = 24.4 |Aug mean C = 24.6 |Sep mean C = 25.2 |Oct mean C = 26.2 |Nov mean C = 27.3 |Dec mean C = 27.6 |year mean C = |Jan low C = 23.0 |Feb low C = 23.0 |Mar low C = 23.0 |Apr low C = 22.7 |May low C = 21.8 |Jun low C = 20.3 |Jul low C = 19.6 |Aug low C = 19.7 |Sep low C = 20.2 |Oct low C = 21.3 |Nov low C = 22.5 |Dec low C = 23.1 |year low C = |Jan record low C = 17.0 |Feb record low C = 16.6 |Mar record low C = 14.0 |Apr record low C = 17.8 |May record low C = 16.2 |Jun record low C = 13.5 |Jul record low C = 13.8 |Aug record low C = 13.0 |Sep record low C = 14.7 |Oct record low C = 16.3 |Nov record low C = 18.2 |Dec record low C = 18.7 |year record low C = 13.0 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 241.7 |Feb precipitation mm = 242.7 |Mar precipitation mm = 162.1 |Apr precipitation mm = 53.0 |May precipitation mm = 15.7 |Jun precipitation mm = 13.4 |Jul precipitation mm = 13.9 |Aug precipitation mm = 12.4 |Sep precipitation mm = 7.6 |Oct precipitation mm = 16.2 |Nov precipitation mm = 30.5 |Dec precipitation mm = 133.1 |year precipitation mm = |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 15.4 |Feb precipitation days = 14.6 |Mar precipitation days = 11.4 |Apr precipitation days = 5.2 |May precipitation days = 2.4 |Jun precipitation days = 2.6 |Jul precipitation days = 3.3 |Aug precipitation days = 2.3 |Sep precipitation days = 2.3 |Oct precipitation days = 2.6 |Nov precipitation days = 3.6 |Dec precipitation days = 9.2 |year precipitation days = |Jan humidity = 79 |Feb humidity = 92 |Mar humidity = 81 |Apr humidity = 76 |May humidity = 70 |Jun humidity = 68 |Jul humidity = 66 |Aug humidity = 66 |Sep humidity = 66 |Oct humidity = 65 |Nov humidity = 71 |Dec humidity = 76 |year humidity = 72 |Jan sun = 189.2 |Feb sun = 170.0 |Mar sun = 214.9 |Apr sun = 256.4 |May sun = 284.8 |Jun sun = 256.5 |Jul sun = 273.1 |Aug sun = 283.6 |Sep sun = 293.3 |Oct sun = 306.8 |Nov sun = 281.5 |Dec sun = 228.9 |year sun = 3039.0 |source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MG/67009.TXT | title = Diego–Suarez/Antsir (Antsiranana) Climate Normals 1961–1990 | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728094334/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MG/67009.TXT | archive-date = 2020-07-28 | url-status = dead | access-date = October 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230923234825/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Madagascar/CSV/ANTSIRANANA_67009.csv | archive-date = 23 September 2023 | url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Madagascar/CSV/ANTSIRANANA_67009.csv | title = Antsiranana Climate Normals 1991–2020 | work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020) | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = 23 September 2023}}</ref> |source 2 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity, 1951–1967),<ref name = DWD> {{cite web | url = https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_670090_kt.pdf | title = Klimatafel von Antsiranana (Diégo-Suarez) / Madagaskar | work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world | publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst | language = de | access-date = 10 June 2016}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat> {{cite web | url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=773 | title = Station Antsiranana | publisher = Meteo Climat |language = fr | access-date = 10 June 2016}}</ref> |date=October 2015 }}

== Places of worship == thumb|Mosquée Bambao Antsiranana Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Christian churches and temples:

* FJKM – Fiangonan'i Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara (Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar) * FLM – Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy (Malagasy Lutheran Church) * Assemblies of God * Fiangonara Batista Biblika (Baptiste church) * Roman Catholic Diocese of Antsiranana (Catholic Church seated in the Cathedral of St. Matthew).<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 1768</ref> * Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean (Anglican Church) There are also Muslim mosques.

==Neighborhoods== * Cap Diego * Place Bazary * Grand Pavois * Avenir * Lazaret Nord * Mangarivotra * Bazarikely * Tanambao Nord * Tanambao Tsena * Tanambao Sud * Tanambao III * Tanambao IV * Tanambao V * Lazaret Sud * Mahatsara * Soafeno * Cité Ouvrière * Ambohimitsinjo * Morafeno * Manongalaza * Ambalavola * SCAMA * Anamakia * Tsaramandroso

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Antsiranana}} {{Wikivoyage|Antsiranana}} * {{Cite web |url=http://portcityskies.tawa.asia/2007/10/10/atlantis-loved-kilimanjaro-1/ |title=''Atlantis Loved Kilimanjaro'' (portcityskies.tawa.asia) |access-date=2010-12-28 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20101231131152/http://portcityskies.tawa.asia/2007/10/10/atlantis-loved-kilimanjaro-1/ |archive-date=2010-12-31 |url-status=dead }} * [https://www.madacamp.com/Diego_Suarez Diego Suárez review (madacamp.com)]

Category:Cities in Madagascar Category:Populated places in Diana Region Category:Regional capitals in Madagascar Category:Former French colonies Category:1885 establishments in the French colonial empire

Antsiranana

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