1475 m high, the Amber Mountain grew up from a former volcano. It dominates the area, provides it with water and is also a sacred place for the animistic religion which is largely spread among Madagascar people. The Amber Mountain is a national park containing a wet primary forest. Mosses, lichens, orchids, ferns and other epiphytes grow under tall trees as a dense ecosystem unique in the world where several kinds of lemurs and also the smallest chameleon ever seen enjoy living.
Joffre Ville, which used to be a resort where the French came to enjoy the fresh air, has kept some remnants of colonial architecture, including old Creole houses and French army barracks. Its casual atmosphere owes something to the consumption of Khât, a mood elevating plant imported from Yemen in the old days by the colonial workers and now grown only in the Amber Mountain area.
The fresh and very rainy climate makes it easy to growa great variety of fruit and vegetables (litchis, grape fruit, peaches, avocados, carrots, potatoes, cabbages…). About fifty kilometres south of Diego Suarez, on the national road number 6, a track goes eastward, among eucalyptus and acacias and reaches a lateritic plateau. Erosion, caused by deforestation and heavy rains, slowly digs huge cracks called lavaka by geographers. Thus strange sculptures, similar to those of the Tsingys, have emerged. Because of their surprising colours- red, ochre and beige- they are called Red Tsingys.