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Albina, Suriname

Coordinates: 5°30′N 54°03′W / 5.500°N 54.050°W / 5.500; -54.050
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For other uses, see Albina.
Albina
Albina in 2008
Albina in 2008
Map showing the resorts of Marowijne District.
  Albina
Coordinates: 5°30′N 54°03′W / 5.500°N 54.050°W / 5.500; -54.050
Country Suriname
DistrictMarowijne District
Resort (municipality)Albina
Area
 • Total397 km2 (153 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2012 census)[1]
 • Total5,247
 • Density13/km2 (34/sq mi)

Albina is a town in eastern Suriname, and is capital of the Marowijne District. The town lies on the west bank of the Marowijne river (Maroni river), which forms the border with French Guiana, directly opposite the French Guianan town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, to which it is connected by a frequent ferry service. Albina can be reached by bus via the East-West Link. The distance between Paramaribo and Albina is about 150 kilometres (95 mi).[2]

History

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Albina was founded on 13 December 1846 by August Kappler,[3] and was named after his wife Albina Josefine Liezenmaier (1815-1904). Kappler had left Germany, and journeyed to Suriname. He noticed an abandoned indigenous village near the Maroni river. Later he met friendly indigenous and Maroon people nearby, and decided to settle in the village after having received permission.[4] By 1913, there was a little town with a medical clinic, and Albina was home to 349 men and 266 women.[5]

On 22 July 1986, the Surinamese Interior War started. That night, the Jungle Commando, led by Ronnie Brunswijk, opened fire on the army barracks in Albina. The fighting lasted three hours. One soldier and two civilians were wounded.[6] The National Army responded by destroying the temple in Moengotapoe, and capturing all males present.[7] During the civil war (1986–1992) which followed, great parts of the area, including much of the town of Albina, and the road, were destroyed. It also caused a refugee crisis into French Guiana.[8] The birthplace of Ronnie Brunswijk is the village of Moiwana[9] Moiwana was the scene of the Moiwana massacre where 35 people, mostly women and children were killed by the National Army.[10]

Main article: 2009 Albina, Suriname riots

On 24–25 December 2009, the Albina riots took place,[11] when local Maroon inhabitants attacked Brazilian, Chinese, Colombian and Peruvian gold prospectors after a man was allegedly stabbed to death by a Brazilian.[12] The riots caused one death,[11] and at least 24 wounded.[13]

Transportation

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Plans have been made to build a bridge between Suriname and French Guiana, however as of May 2020, no action has been taken.[14][15]

The town has a small airport, the Albina Airstrip, with a 650-metre (2,150 ft) asphalt runway in use since 1953.

Albina has a small boat (korjaal) connection to Galibi. The journey across the water takes about 1.5 hrs. There is a beach and a small tourist shop. The main reason tourists visit Galibi is to see the turtles, which come from all over the world (including places as distant as Costa Rica and Australia) to lay their eggs in Suriname.[16]

Notable people

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Villages

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Sister cities

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5°30′N 54°03′W / 5.500°N 54.050°W / 5.500; -54.050

References

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  1. ^ "Resorts in Suriname Census 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Transport". Ministry of Transport, Communication and Tourism (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. ^ De West, Verslag Eeuwfeest Albina, 20 december 1946
  4. ^ "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 398 - Kappler (August)" (PDF). Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1916. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 36 - Albina" (PDF). Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1916. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Leger Suriname zoekt gijzelaars". Reformatorisch Dagblad via Delpher. 26 July 1986. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  7. ^ "The Kingdom Of The Netherlands In The Caribbean. Suriname 1954 – 2004: Kroniek van een illusie". Rozenberg Quarterly (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Distrikt Marowijne". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Het bloedbad van Moiwana in Suriname". Is Geschiedenis.nl (in Dutch). 29 November 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Suriname 2003 report". Archived from the original on 22 February 2006. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  11. ^ a b Elizondo, Gabriel (December 27, 2009). "Christmas violence in Suriname". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
  12. ^ "Conflito no Suriname levou a pelo menos 7 mortes, diz missionário" (in Portuguese). G1 Globo.com. December 26, 2009. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
  13. ^ "Missão da FAB deve ir ao Suriname para prestar auxílio a brasileiros" (in Portuguese). G1 Globo.com. December 26, 2009. Archived from the original on December 30, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
  14. ^ IIRSA.org - Improvement of the Marowijne River International Crossing Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine - project summary
  15. ^ Indianfeelings.nl - Fusie Suriname en Franks Guyana?
  16. ^ "Galibi Tour naar Galibi Zeeschildpadden". Galibi Suriname (in Dutch and English). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Live blog: Verkiezing president en vicepresident Suriname". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Wat gebeurde er in Januari in Suriname". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Olton van Genderen Stichting" (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Oscar Harris". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Dorpen en Dorpsbesturen". Vereniging van Inheemse Dorpshoofden (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Winti Practives in Bigiston. Page 21". Research Gate. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Suriname Report". Amnesty International. 2003. Archived from the original on 22 February 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Koksijde vrijt met Albina". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 December 2021.
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