Maripasoula
Maripasoula is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America on the northern Atlantic coast. With a land area of, Maripasoula is the largest commune of France.
Overview
Maripasoula City is the capital of the county. Its inhabitants are known in French as Maripasouliens and Maripasouliennes. The commune marks the border between the Maroon tribes and the Amerindian Wayana tribe. Except for residents of the capital, the commune has a largely tribal population.The town of Maripasoula was founded by European colonists as Upper Maroni at the end of the 19th century when gold was discovered. The town is very ethnically diverse. In 1953, the residents decided to change the name to Maripasoula. Because of problems with crime, the town is often referred to as "Far West", in a reference to the United States' historical Wild West.
Sites of interest
National park
The territory of Maripasoula belongs to the Guiana Amazonian Park. Bellevue de l'Inini, the highest mountain in French Guiana, is located in Maripasoula.Protected buildings and historical monuments
Near the Maroni Rivers, petroglyphs have been found depicting drawings of many animals and humans.Transport
Maripasoula is served by the Maripasoula Airport.The commune can be accessed only by air, or by boat via the Maroni river. In August 2020, construction is planned to begin on the road to Papaïchton. There are plans to built the Route Nationale from Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni to Maripasoula, however as of 2020, Route Nationale ends south of Apatou.