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Thursday, 2nd september 2010
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Regional Offices and their regions


DIEGO SUAREZ or ANTSIRANANA

At the extreme north of the Great Island, Diégo Suarez is situated in an exceptional site, at the bottom of a real internal sea formed by the Bays of the French, of Thunder, of White stones and by the Gallois cul de sac.

At either side of this « sea » and its Sugar loaf, the two other seas, that is the Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel meet. A cosmopolitan town, Diego Suarez lives with the rythm of its shipyards, and along its straight streets lined with buildings sometimes with colonnades reigns a particular atmosphere which is not felt in any other town of Madagascar.   

  • To the east, the Coast of the Bays, a succession of coves and lagoons protected by coral reefs. The Emerald Sea , a wide lagoon where one can dive in a natural aquarium. The Bay of the Pigeons and that of the Dunes, white sand beaches often empty, offering a beautiful view of the pass.  The Bay of the Sakalava, recognized as one of the most beautiful windsurf spots in the world. For …simple leisure activities, Ramena, 18 km from the town, the favourite beach of the inhabitants of Antsiranana at week-ends. Along this road to the East, the Mountain of the French with its Way of the Cross that leads to caves and vestiges of fortifications… 

  • To the west, the rock of the Windsor Castle and its 360° panoramic view on the Cape of Amber to the north, the Coast of the Bays to the east, the  foothills of the Mountain of Amber to the south, the Coast of the Virgin Islands and its Bay of Courrier opening up to the Mozambique Channel in the west. Very much appreciated by the passionate of diving and game fishing, starting point for yatch people navigating along the north- west coast.  A myriad of islands with names like Nosy Hara, the Island of Goats, the Island of Gulls , which are real sanctuaries of nature.

Inland, the Mountain of Amber and its micro-climate which plays the role of water tower for the whole region. The Massif of Ankarana, its Tsingy, its networks of underground rivers, its caves some of which are royal burial places.

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Regional Offices and their Regions

At present Madagascar numbers 20 Regional offices affiliated to the National Office. Their distribution may coincide with administrative regions but this is not a rule : some key-spots of tourism like Nosy Be or Sainte Marie have their own Offices, others may be created according to the same criteria to promote them...

ANTANANARIVO (Tananarive)

Antananarivo is one of the most picturesque capitals in the world thanks to its relief and history. Built like all fortresses on a hilltop, it spread to the neighbouring knolls, invested the slopes and transformed the marshes below.

ANTSIRABE and the VAKINANKARATRA

170 km from Antananarivo along the RN7,,Antsirabe, the capital of Vakinankaratra is a spa town surrounded by volcanic mountains which benefits from a particularly vivifying climate.

FIANARANTSOA

Fianarantsoa is often referred to as the twin sister of Antananarivo. Like the capital, it has its Lake Anosy, a railway line going to the east coast, hills and an Old City, the Tanana Ambony whose construction started in 1830.

MAHAJANGA or MAJUNGA

Mahajanga, the second port of Madagascar, settled at the mouth of the Betsiboka reddened by alluvial deposits. In this « City of Flowers » whose origin is lost in innumerable legends, indo-arabic influence left its imprints such as houses built in cube or finely carved doors.

MORONDAVA and the MENABE

The region of Morondava is referred to as Menabe ( very red) because of the lateritic sediments carried along by the rivers Mangoky and Manambolo.

NOSY BE

Nosy Be owes its nickname of Island of Perfumes to the plantations of Ylang-Ylang and spices whose fragrance is permanently in the air, captivating tourists as soon as they set foot on the airport of Fascène.

SAINTE MARIE

Stretching in length off Soanierana Ivongo, Sainte Marie benefits from a less rainy and a milder climate than what is prevailing along the east coast.

SAVA (Sambava - Antalaha - Vohemar - Andapa)

The vanilla « fragrants » which gave birth to the vanilla Bourbon was already cultivated in other countries before being introduced to Madagascar in 1870. The Great Island was already the first world producer in 1924 and it has remained so thanks to the region of SAVA in the north-east, which alone produces 1,000 tons of processed vanilla.

TOAMASINA or TAMATAVE

Toamasina, first port of Madagascar, is not in need of strong images and sensations “sticking” on it and which it cannot get rid of. The sudden rain which stops as quickly as it had started for example, to the extent that it is a common joke to say that it has the virtue of not wetting…

 

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Thursday, 2nd september 2010
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