Diana Region

Coats of Arms of Region Diana

Diana is a region in Madagascar. The region is the most northerly part of the island. It borders the adjacent regions of Sava in the south and Sofia in the west. It covers an area of 19,266 km²., and had an estimated population of 485,800 in 2004. The regional capital is Antsiranana (also known as Diego Suarez).

Geography

Rivers

The main rivers of the Diana region are:

• Besokatra River
• Irodo River
• Loky River
• Mahavavy River
• Ramena River
• Saharenana River
• Sambirano River

Nature Reserves & Visitors attraction

In Diana are situated the following National Parks, Reserves and Visitors attractions:

• Amber Mountain National Park
• Analamerana Reserve
• Ankarana Reserve
• Lokobe Reserve
• Manongarivo Reserve
• Tsaratanana Reserve
• Tsingy Rouge

Administrative divisions

Diana region is divided into five districts, which are sub-divided into 51 communes.

• Ambanja District
• Ambilobe District
• Antsiranana I District (the city of Antsiranana)
• Antsiranana II District (the rural area surrounding the city)
• Nosy Be District (the island of Nosy Be)

Transport

• Seaports in Antsiranana and Nosy Be
• 2 regional airport Arrachart Airport (Antsiranana) and Fascene Airport in Nosy Be.
• 2 local airports in Ambanja and Ambilobe.
• The region is crossed by the paved Route Nationale 6 (Antsiranana - Ambilobe - Ambanja) and the unpaved Route Nationale 5a from Ambilobe to Vohemar.

Economy

Fishery

Antsiranana is an important tuna fishing port. There is also a tuna canning factory. Other important fishery products are shrimps (2.813.291 kg. exported in 2002) and sea cucumber.

Agriculture

Main crops are:

• subsistence agriculture: 75.510 ha (67% of the cultivated area): rice, manioc, corn, beans, sweet potato & potato.
• cash crops: 21.560 ha (19% of the cultivated area): coffee, pepper, cacao and vanilla.
• industrial crops: 15.420 ha (13% of the cultivated area): sugar cane, peanuts and cotton.

There are also important productions of essential oils (mainly Ylang Ylang but also Palmarosa, Vetyver and Basil) on 2465 ha in the regions of Nosy Be and Ambanja .

• Cattle raising: in 2002 the region counted: 308.530 bovines, 53.980 porcs, 2.840 sheeps and 44.520 goats.

Mining

Pozzolana, Lime, Gold, Sapphire, Graphite, Lead, Zinc, Corundum, Amethyst, Garnet, Zircon, Cordierite, Quartz, Beryl and Ilmenite are extracted in the region.

References

(French) Monographie de la Région Diana

External links

• Official website of Diana region

Communes in the Diana Region of the Republic of Madagascar Ambanja Ambalahonko Ambanja Ambodimanga Ambohimarina Ankatafa Ankingameloko Anorotsangana Antafiambotry Antranokarany Antsakoamanondro Antsatsaka Antsirabe Bemanevika Est Bemaneviky West Djangoa Maherivaratra Marotolana Marovato Ambilobe Ambakirano Ambalan'anjavy Ambarakaraka Ambilobe Ambodibonara Ampondralava Anaborano Ifasy Anjiabe Ambony Antsaravibe Antsohimbondrona Beramanja Betsihaka Manambato Mantaly Tanambao Marivorahona Antsiranana I Antsiranana Antsiranana II Andrafiabe Andranofanjava Andranovondronina Anivorano Nord Ankarangona Anketrakabe Antsahampano Antsalaka Bobasakoa Joffreville Mahalina Mahavanona Mangaoka Mosorolava Ramena Sadjoavato Nosy Be Nosy Be

Regions of the Republic of Madagascar Alaotra-Mangoro Amoron'i Mania Analamanga Analanjirofo Androy Anosy Atsimo-Andrefana Atsimo-Atsinanana Atsinanana Betsiboka Boeny Bongolava Diana Haute Matsiatra Ihorombe Itasy Melaky Menabe Sava Sofia Vakinankaratra Vatovavy-Fitovinany

Coordinates: 12°16′12″S 49°16′48″E / 12.27000°S 49.28000°E / -12.27000; 49.28000