ANTSIRANANA

also spelled Antseranana, formerly Digo-Suarez, town at the northern tip of Madagascar. Antsiranana, which is situated on a promontory at the south end of a bay, developed from a French naval base. The local economy still depends on the naval yards and on the transshipment of cargoes between coasters and larger vessels. The town's main industry is ship construction and repair. Other industrial products include soap, salt, chemicals, and processed foods. The town is a regional centre (1977) of the University of Madagascar. The airport of Anamakia (6.5 miles southwest) is served by internal air services. The region south of Antsiranana is dominated by the forested Tsaratanana Massif, which includes the highest mountain in the country, Maromokotra Peak (9,436 feet ). Most of the people of the region live in the lowlands along the east and west coasts, and a road runs along each coast. The Ankara caves south of Antsiranana are a notable feature of the region. Major crops raised in the locality include rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, peanuts (groundnuts), and sugarcane. Vanilla is grown on a large scale in the southeast. Pop. (1993 prelim.) 45,967.