Kourou (river)
Appearance
Kourou | |
---|---|
![]() American black vultures on the shore of the Kourou River | |
Location | |
Country | French Guiana |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Amazon Rainforest |
Mouth | |
• location | Atlantic Ocean |
• coordinates | 5°9′10″N 52°37′45″W / 5.15278°N 52.62917°W |
Length | 112 km (70 mi) |
Basin size | 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi) |
Discharge | |
• average | 3,000 m3/s (110,000 cu ft/s) |
The Kourou is a 112 km long river in French Guiana. The town of Kourou is located at its estuary, which is generally used as a pleasure port.
Like the river Amazon, it has brown, muddy waters due to sediments picked up from the forest. A great many different fish species live in the river, and are used in the local diet.
Like many Guyanaise rivers, it is polluted by mercury, as a result of clandestine gold mining.