Amatopo Explained

Official Name:Amatopo
Other Name:Amotopo
Pushpin Map:Suriname
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Suriname
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Suriname
Subdivision Type1:District
Subdivision Name1:Sipaliwini District
Subdivision Type2:Resort
Subdivision Name2:Coeroeni
Leader Title:Head captain
Leader Name:Pepoe Ipajari
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:27[1]
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Coordinates:3.5472°N -57.6431°W

Amatopo or Amotopo is a Tiriyó village on the Courentyne River in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname. The village lies next to the Amatopo Airstrip and about upstream from the village of Lucie. The Frederik Willem IV Falls and Arapahu Island are located near the village.

Overview

The residents of the village consider themselves Okomoyana, which means "wasp people". The Okomoyana category can be seen as a subdivision of the Tiriyó people, and the Okomoyana indeed speak the Tiriyó language. The villagers who settled in the village came from Kwamalasamutu.

The airstrip was constructed during Operation Grasshopper. In the West Suriname Plan, Amatopo was to play an important role in the mining of bauxite in the area. Even a road was constructed from Amatopo to Paramaribo, but this road was deserted after the Surinamese Interior War. The first two settlers moved into the unused buildings near the airstrip. Later a pilot chased them away. Asongo Alalaparu, the granman (paramount chief) told them to return, and built their houses next to the facilities which were already present. The settlement started in 2001.

Frederik Willem IV Falls

The Frederik Willem IV Falls also Anora Falls[2] are located in the Courentyne River near Amatopo. In 1871, Charles Barrington Brown discovered that the river above the waterfalls splits into two rivers. Arapahu Island is a river island located below the waterfalls.[3]

Tourism

An eco-lodge at Arapahu Island is situated half an hour upstream from Amatopo. The visitors of the eco-lodge make use of Amatopo Airstrip to reach their destination.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dorpen en Dorpsbesturen. Vereniging van Inheemse Dorpshoofden in Suriname. 22 June 2022. nl.
  2. Web site: Distrikt Sipaliwini 2. Suriname.nu. 16 December 2021. nl.
  3. News: Tumble in the Jungle . Patrick Woodhead . 21 May 2006. 16 December 2021. New York Times.