Saramacca (river)
| Saramacca | ||
 Catharina Sophia plantation on the banks of the Saramacca (before 1891) |
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| Data | ||
| location | Suriname | |
| River system | Saramacca | |
| origin | Confluence of two streams in the northern foothills of the Wilhelmina Mountains 3 ° 50 ′ 20 ″ N , 56 ° 3 ′ 34 ″ W |
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| muzzle | at the Coppename point together with the Coppename in the Atlantic Coordinates: 5 ° 50 ′ 18 ″ N , 55 ° 55 ′ 30 ″ W 5 ° 50 ′ 18 ″ N , 55 ° 55 ′ 30 ″ W
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| Catchment area | approx. 9400 km² | |
| Left tributaries | Tukumutu | |
| Small towns | Groningen | |
 Saramacca River near Groningen (before 1929) |
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The Saramacca is a river in Suriname ( South America ), in the districts of Sipaliwini , Para and Saramacca .
River course
The Saramacca rises in the northern foothills of the Wilhelmina mountains . It flows northwards, where it forms the mighty Lawaaidam = noise dam (Lely Falls). The main case has a height of about 10 m. North of Marrondorf Akulitatojeprati he takes the next from the left side major river Tukumutu on which its waters on the northern slope of Emma chain receives. After passing other smaller waterfalls and a few Marron villages , the Saramacca north of Posugrunu forms an extensive waterfall complex , of which the Grandam is the most important. At Jan Basi Gadoberg with the waterfall of the same name, it is forced to flow eastwards over several kilometers. Continuing on its way to the north, the river passes some Marron villages , forms the Kintibofu falls and, north of the Mamadam, takes the right tributary , the small Saramacca and south of Kwakugron the Mindrineti . The Mindrineti is known for its gold deposits on the lower reaches. After the Saramacca has left the Sipaliwini district, it crosses the Avanaveroweg with the Bailey Bridge . The river then winds strongly to Uitkijk , where the Saramacca Canal is connected to the river by sluices and a ferry connects the places Uitkijk and Hamburg (former plantation ). The Saramacca turns west past Uitkijk , crosses the so-called east-west connection with a bridge behind Groningen and then flows between the agricultural areas and the oil production facility on the Catharina Sophia plantation to the Coppename point , where the river and the Coppename into the Atlantic flows out.
particularities
The Saramacca has a catchment area of approximately 9,400 km² and the length of the estuary is 255 km. As a waterway , the river is particularly important for local freight and passenger traffic to the agricultural areas. However, the navigability is hindered by sandbanks in the estuary.
exploration
For the scientific study of the upper reaches have the measurements of Loth in the 70s of the 18th century , the Saramacca- expedition under Van Stockum (1902-1903), the third Table Mountain Expedition (1958) Geijskes and the work of the Centraal Bureau Lucht card ring (Central Office for Aerial Mapping) and the Geological Mijnbouwkundige Dienst (Geological and Mining Service) made contributions.
designation
Lawrence Keymis, friend of Sir Walter Raleigh , who explored the river in 1596, called it Shurama. Later names were Surrmacca, Saramo, Saramaca and Sarameca. The Arawak called the river Surama, from which the current name was probably derived.
bridges
In addition to the already mentioned bridge, north of Groningen , a new bridge over the Saramacca from Uitkijk to Hamburg was opened to traffic on June 24, 2011. Construction began in May 2005. Bad planning and incorrect calculations led to lowering of the bridge piers. After the originally commissioned building contractor was unable to deliver the bridge safely, a contract for the completion of the bridge was signed between the Surinamese government and the Dutch building company Ballast Nedam in March 2010. However, this involved additional costs of 3.7 million euros.
On July 17, 2011, another new bridge was built over the Saramacca at Pikin Saron. a. the place Bigi Poika opens by President Bouterse opened. This 175 meter long and 9.60 meter wide concrete bridge replaces an old ailing wooden bridge.
literature
- CFA Bruijning and J. Voorhoeve (main editors): Encyclopedie van Suriname . Elsevier , Amsterdam a. Brussel 1977, ISBN 90-10-01842-3 , p. 545.
