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Although since 1975 the officinal 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.
Today Diego Suarez is Madagascar's 5th largest town and after the capital [[Antananarivo]] the most modern in terms of lifestyle, shops and entertainment. The locals are a vibrant mixture of Malagasy, Indians, Arabs, Creole, Chinese and Comorians. Most tourists discover only Colbert Street, which is framed by large, colourful colonial brick buildings with verandas. Most hotels, restaurants, tour operators and handicraft shops can be found on along this street. The area south of [[Place Foch]] is more Malagasy, with local stores, street markets and the big fruit and food market. The entire town will go to sleep between noon and 3pm with its peak of awakeness during night time.
The climate around Diego Suarez is hot with seven months of dry weather a year. Almost all rain falls between end of November and April. In those months the landscape turns from beige and brown to lush green. Bird lovers will enjoy the dry season as birds are more visible then.
