Apatou
Commune in French Guiana, France From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Apatou (French pronunciation: [apatu]) is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France in South America. Apatou is home to Maroons of the Aluku, Paramacca, Ndyuka, and Saramaka tribes.[3]
Apatou | |
|---|---|
 Canoe taxis at Apatou | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Location of the commune (in red) within French Guiana | |
Location of Apatou  | |
| Coordinates: 5°09′12″N 54°20′10″W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas region and department | French Guiana |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni |
| Intercommunality | Ouest Guyanais |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2021–2026) | Moïse Edwin[1] |
| Area 1 | 2,020 km2 (780 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 9,818 |
| • Density | 4.9/km2 (13/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−03:00 |
| INSEE/Postal code | 97360 /97317 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
The town of Apatou was founded in 1882 as Moutendé.[3] It was renamed after Captain Apatou of the Aluku.[4] In the late 19th century, Apatou was a guide for the explorer Jules Crevaux. On 7 September 1885, Jules Brunetti opened a Catholic mission in the village.[5] In 1891, Apatou mediated between France and the Colony of Suriname with regards to the border, and allied the Aluku with France.[4] He also united all the different tribes on the French side.[3]
Apatou was up to 1969 part of the Inini territory which allowed for an autonomous and self sufficient tribal system for the Maroons without clear borders.[6] Along with the commune, came a government structure, and francisation. Most importantly, it led to the concentration in bigger villages and the near abandonment of smaller settlements.[6]
The commune of Apatou was created on 12 November 1976 by detaching its territory from the commune of Grand-Santi-Papaichton (since then renamed Grand-Santi).[3]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 318 | — |
| 1974 | 453 | +5.18% |
| 1982 | 618 | +3.96% |
| 1990 | 2,451 | +18.79% |
| 1999 | 3,628 | +4.45% |
| 2007 | 6,357 | +7.26% |
| 2012 | 7,257 | +2.68% |
| 2017 | 9,241 | +4.95% |
| Source: INSEE[7] | ||
The villages in the commune could only to be reached by boat from the Maroni River.[3] In 2010, Route Nationale opened connecting Apatou with Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, and the road network of French Guiana. The road was opened with the Tour of Guiana.[8] The road is scheduled to be extended to Maripasoula. Construction work on the section to Papaïchton is planned to begin in 2021.[9]
Apatou is home to ASC Agouado football team who play at the Stade de Moutendé.[10]
- Communes of French Guiana
- Lucifer Dékou-Dékou Biological Reserve, a wilderness area in the commune.
- Providence, a village in the commune.
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