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The Kourou (French pronunciation: [kuru]) is a river in French Guiana, discharging into the Atlantic Ocean. It is 144 km (89 mi) long.[1] The town of Kourou is located at its estuary, which is generally used as a pleasure port.
| Kourou | |
|---|---|
 American black vultures on the shore of the Kourou River | |
  | |
| Location | |
| Country | French Guiana |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Amazon Rainforest |
| Mouth | Atlantic Ocean |
• coordinates | 5°9′10″N 52°37′45″W / 5.15278°N 52.62917°W |
| Length | 144 km (89 mi) |
| Basin size | 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 3,000 m3/s (110,000 cu ft/s) |
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.
References
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