Antsiranana
Encyclopedia
Antsiranana named Diego-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar
.
Antsiranana is the capital of Diana
Region.
navigator who visited the bay in 1543.
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 giving France a protectorate over the bay and surrounding territory, as well as the islands of Nossi-Be and Ste. Marie de Madagascar.
The colony's administration was subsumed into that of Madagascar in 1896.
The Second Pacific Squadron of Imperial Russia anchored and was resupplied at Diego-Suarez on its way to the Battle of Tsushima
in 1905.
Diego Suárez was one of the points of invasion for Allied
forces when they captured Madagascar
during 1942. There were fears that Japan would pressure Vichy France into granting use of Madagascar in much the same way as French Indo-China during the previous year. Consequently an invasion of the island was launched. Diego Suarez was selected as the initial invasion point due to its superlative harbour and the fact that it was the seat of many important officials. This was also the site of an attack by Japanese
midget submarines on the British fleet.
France continued to use the city as a military base after the Malagasy independence 1960 until the socialist revolution of 1973.
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
.
Antsiranana is the capital of Diana
Diana, Madagascar
Diana is a region in Madagascar. The region is the most northerly part of the island. It borders the adjacent regions of Sava to the east and Sofia to the south. It covers an area of 19,266 km2., and had an estimated population of 485,800 in 2004...
Region.
Transports
Antisiranana has a natural harbour, but the remote location, and, until recently, a bad road to the south, has made it rather unimportant for freight traffic.History
The place was named for Diogo Soares, a PortuguesePortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
navigator who visited the bay in 1543.
In the 1880s, the bay
Headlands and bays
Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment.- Geology and geography :Headlands and bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high,...
was coveted by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, which desired it as a coaling station for steamships. After the first Franco-Hova War
Franco-Hova War
The Franco-Hova Wars consisted of French military interventions in Madagascar between 1883 and 1896 that overthrew the ruling monarchy of the Merina Kingdom, and resulted in Madagascar becoming a French colony...
, Queen Ranavalona III
Ranavalona III of Madagascar
Ranavalona III was the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar. She ruled from July 30, 1883 to February 28, 1897 in a reign marked by ongoing and ultimately futile efforts to resist the colonial designs of the government of France...
signed a treaty on December 17, 1885 giving France a protectorate over the bay and surrounding territory, as well as the islands of Nossi-Be and Ste. Marie de Madagascar.
The colony's administration was subsumed into that of Madagascar in 1896.
The Second Pacific Squadron of Imperial Russia anchored and was resupplied at Diego-Suarez on its way to the Battle of Tsushima
Battle of Tsushima
The Battle of Tsushima , commonly known as the “Sea of Japan Naval Battle” in Japan and the “Battle of Tsushima Strait”, was the major naval battle fought between Russia and Japan during the Russo-Japanese War...
in 1905.
Diego Suárez was one of the points of invasion for Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
forces when they captured Madagascar
Battle of Madagascar
The Battle of Madagascar was the Allied campaign to capture Vichy-French-controlled Madagascar during World War II. It began on 5 May 1942. Fighting did not cease until 6 November.-Geo-political:...
during 1942. There were fears that Japan would pressure Vichy France into granting use of Madagascar in much the same way as French Indo-China during the previous year. Consequently an invasion of the island was launched. Diego Suarez was selected as the initial invasion point due to its superlative harbour and the fact that it was the seat of many important officials. This was also the site of an attack by Japanese
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
midget submarines on the British fleet.
France continued to use the city as a military base after the Malagasy independence 1960 until the socialist revolution of 1973.
See also
- Antsiranana BayAntsiranana BayAntsiranana Bay , the large natural bay along the northeast coast of Madagascar, is considered one of the finest natural harbors in the world...
- Atlantis Loved Kilimanjaro