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'''The town of Diego Suarez is located in the north of Madagascar in the world's largest natural bay with the picturesque [[Nosy Lonja]] (sugarloaf island) in the middle. Diego Suarez is named after the Portuguese explorer Diego Diaz who came to Madagascar in 1500 and the sailor Fernando Suarez who arrived at the bay in 1506. Unfortunately Diego Diaz was rather cruel to the locals and sold them into slavery.'''
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin-right:10px;"><tr>
<td valign="top">[[File:Diego_Suarez_108.jpg|185px|none|thumb|Mosque]]</td>
<td valign="top">[[File:Joffre_Square_001.jpg|185px|none|thumb|Joffre Square]]</td>
<td valign="top">[[File:Marine_Hotel_001.jpg|185px|none|thumb|Marine Hotel]]</td></tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">[[File:Bazari_Be_001.jpg|185px|none|thumb|Bazary Be - Great Market Place]]</td>
<td valign="top">[[File:Diego_Suarez_.jpg|185px|none|thumb|]]</td>
<td valign="top">[[File:.jpg|185px|none|thumb|]]</td>
</tr></table>
Although since 1975 the official name of the town is ''Antsiranana'', literally meaning "that is at the seaside" in Malagasy, many people still refer to Diego Suarez. In 1885 the French Navy built a military base on the location, given the strategic importance of a deep-water harbour. During World War II Diego Suarez was under control of the French Vichy. In 1942 Britain and The Allies occupied Diego Suarez to prevent the Japanese warships and submarines from entering the harbour. Hundreds of British soldiers fell in the Battle of Madagascar. Until 1973, Diego Suarez served as a port to the French fleet of the Indian Ocean.
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<td valign="top">[[File:Diego_Suarez_120.jpg|185px|none|thumb|Traditional hairstyleFormer Governor's Palace]]</td><td valign="top">[[File:Diego_Suarez_110.jpg|185px|none|thumb|Traditional houseNy Havana building]]</td>
<td valign="top">[[File:.jpg|185px|none|thumb|Girl of Navana village]]</td>
</tr></table>