Brokopondo District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brokopondo
District
Brokopondo reservoir
Map of Suriname showing Brokopondo district
Country	Suriname
Capital	Brokopondo
Area
• Total	7,364 km2 (2,843 sq mi)
Population  (2012 census)
• Total	15,909
• Density	2.16037/km2 (5.5953/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-3

Brokopondo is a district in the country of Suriname. Its capital city is also called Brokopondo. Other important towns in the district include Brownsweg and Kwakoegron. Brokopondo is known for its large reservoir, beautiful nature, and the discovery of gold. It has a population of about 15,909 people and covers an area of 7,364 square kilometers.

History of Brokopondo

How Brokopondo District Started

The Brokopondo district was created in 1959. It was formed from parts of the old Suriname District. This new district was made because of a big agreement in 1958. This agreement was between the Government of Suriname and a company called Alcoa. They planned to build the huge Brokopondo Reservoir.

Building the Big Lake

The Brokopondo Reservoir is a very large artificial lake near a place called Afobaka. It was built between 1961 and 1964. This reservoir helps produce hydroelectric power. This power provides about half of all the electricity needed in Suriname.

Building the reservoir was a big project. It meant that many villages in the area would be flooded after the Afobaka Dam was built. About 5,000 people, mostly Maroons, had to move from their homes. In 1960, a road called the Avobakaweg was built. This road connected the reservoir area to Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, and the rest of the country.

Changes to the District

In 1983, the districts of Suriname were changed again. Most of the areas where different tribal groups lived in the interior of Suriname were moved into the Sipaliwini District.

The Brokopondo Development Plan aims to make the towns of Brokopondo and Brownsweg important centers. They want to focus on tourism in these areas. Both towns are being redeveloped to have better town centers in the early 21st century.

Nature in Brokopondo

Suriname River as seen from the Blauwe Berg

The district has several beautiful waterfalls, like the Irene Falls and Leo Falls. In the rainforests of Brokopondo, there are large protected areas. These areas are home to many different kinds of wildlife.

Nature Parks and Reserves

• Brownsberg Nature Park: This is a large nature park, covering 12,250 hectares. It was started in 1969. About 8,400 hectares of the park are used for scientific research.
• Brinckheuvel Nature Reserve: This reserve is 60 square kilometers in size and was created in 1966.

Eco-Tourism at Berg en Dal

Berg en Dal is a former wood plantation. It is located near the Avobakaweg. In 2008, this plantation was turned into the Berg en Dal Eco & Cultural Resort. This is a fancy holiday resort for ecotourism, which means tourism focused on enjoying nature. Berg en Dal is also home to the Blauwe Berg, which is a mountain that looks out over the Suriname River.

Farming in Brokopondo

Most of the land in Brokopondo is not good for very large-scale farming. The main crops grown here are maize (corn), soya, pineapples, and peanuts. The former plantation Phedra is the main farming area in the region. In 1960, a palm oil plantation was set up in Phedra. However, due to the Surinamese Interior War and a plant disease called lethal yellowing, the factory in Victoria, Klaaskreek had to close in 1996.

Economy of Brokopondo

Recently, gold has been found in the Brokopondo district. This discovery has brought many new people to the district. These new settlers come from other parts of Suriname and from all over the world. In 2011, a large permission was given to the Suparna Gold Corporation to mine gold in Sarakreek.

Resorts in Brokopondo

Resorts of Brokopondo

Brokopondo is divided into 6 areas called resorts (ressorten):

• Brownsweg
• Centrum
• Klaaskreek
• Kwakoegron
• Marshallkreek
• Sarakreek

Villages in Brokopondo

• Afobaka
• Baikutu
• Berg en Dal
• Brokopondo
• Brownsweg
• Lebidoti
• Nieuw-Koffiekamp
• Nieuw-Lombe
• Zoewatta

See also

In Spanish: Distrito de Brokopondo para niños