Saint-Élie

Commune in French Guiana, France
Commune in French Guiana, France
Location of Saint-Élie
Map
Coordinates: (2020–2026) Véronique Jacaria[1]Area
1
5,680 km2 (2,190 sq mi)Population
 (2021)[2]
241 • Density0.042/km2 (0.11/sq mi)Time zoneUTC−03:00INSEE/Postal code
97358 /97312
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Élie (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃t‿eli]; French Guianese Creole: Sentéli) is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France in South America. In 1930, Saint-Élie became capital of the Inini territory.[3] From 1953 onward, the commune was called Centre. In 1969, it was renamed to Saint-Élie.

History

Gold mine in Saint-Élie with the railway

In 1873, gold was discovered in Saint-Élie. The mines were in the middle of the rain forest with no river connection to the outside world. In 1884 construction began on a Decauville railway line to Gare Tigre near Saint-Nazaire in order to access the Sinnamary River.[4]

The railway line needed frequent repairs, and had over 100 bridges. In 1990, the railway line was abandoned when a road opened.[5] The roads ends near Saint-Nazaire, and a 45-minute ferry to Petit-Saut Dam is needed to reach the outside world.[6]

Gold is still the backbone of the economy. The gold mines are currently being exploited by Newmont Mining Corporation.[7] In 1989, construction started on the Petit-Saut Dam to produce hydroelectric power. The dam was completed in 1994.[8]

Nature

In 1996, La Trinité National Nature Reserve was founded. It covers 76,903 hectares and is primary tropical rain forest located in the heart of the Guyana plateau forest.[9]

Villages

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 4 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ "South America 1930: Vargas Revolution". Omni Atlas. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Industrial Railways in French Guiana, 2014". International Steam. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Quand la Guyane voulait son chemin de fer" (PDF). Alliance Francophone Internationale du Tourisme et des Voyages (in French). Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  6. ^ "La barrière de la discorde à Saint-Elie". France TV Info (in French). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  7. ^ "CME Announces Agreement with Newmont on its Esperance Project and Seeks a Partner for its Saint-Elie Property in French Guiana". Globe News Wire. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Petit Saut Dam". Structurae.net. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Historique Réserve Naturelle La Trinité" (in French). Retrieved 4 June 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint-Élie.
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