Agatash is a village in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region of Guyana. It is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Bartica along the Essequibo River opposite Sloth Island.[2]

Agatash
Village
Agatash is located in Guyana
Agatash
Agatash
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 6°22′38″N 58°37′09″W / 6.37709°N 58.61910°W / 6.37709; -58.61910
Country Guyana
RegionCuyuni-Mazaruni
Population
 (2012)[1]
 • Total
740
ClimateAf

Overview

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The area used to be crown lands.[2] In the early 1900s, the government of Demerara awarded 1,500 acres (610 ha) for a lime estate.[3] Agatash is made of two Arawak words meaning water and land.[2]

The economy is based on farming and mining. Agatash has a primary school and a health centre.[2] The nearest hospital is in Bartica.[4] Electricity is provided by solar panels donated by the Eerepami Regenwaldstiftung.[5] The village depends on rainwater for drinking.[2] In July 2021, the road to Bartica was paved.[6]

Sloth Island

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Sloth Island is an ecotourism resort located on an island in the Essequibo River.[7] The island is opposite Agatash,[2] and measures 160 acres (65 ha).[8]

The island was uninhabited, contained pristine rainforests, and was home to many monkeys, sloths, and birds.[7] In the early 1990s, five acres were developed into a tourist resort which was built by Amerindians from Agatash. The remainder has been designated nature reserve.[8] The island can be accessed by a five minute boat ride from Bartica.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "2012 Population by Village". Statistics Guyana. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Joanna Dhanraj (7 April 2019). "Agatash". Stabroek News. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Lemmetjes". De Surinamer via Delpher.nl (in Dutch). 14 February 1907. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  4. ^ Alex Wayne (16 June 2019). "Bartica–a fusion of valleys, undulating hills, and happy people". Kaieteur News Online. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Agatash community gifted with solar lights /panels". 3 May 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Agatash gets paved road, nursery school for Dagg Point". Department of Public Information. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Sloth Island Nature Resort – one of Guyana's best kept secrets". Kaieteur News Online. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b "About Sloth Island". Sloth Island. Retrieved 12 December 2021.