Saint-Élie

Not to be confused with the town of Saint-Élie-de-Caxton (formerly known as Saint-Élie).

Saint-Élie
Commune
The Petit-Saut Dam, northeast of the commune, on the border with Sinnamary
Location of the commune (in red) within French Guiana
Location of Saint-Élie
Coordinates: 4°49′22″N 53°16′35″W
Country	France
Overseas region and department	French Guiana
Arrondissement	Cayenne
Intercommunality	CC des Savanes
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Véronique Jacaria[1]
Area ^1	5,680 km^2 (2,190 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]	241
• Density	0.042/km^2 (0.11/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−03:00
INSEE/Postal code	97358 /97312
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km^2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Élie (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃t‿eli]; French Guianese Creole: Sentéli) is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France in South America. In 1930, Saint-Élie became capital of the Inini territory.^[3] From 1953 onward, the commune was called Centre. In 1969, it was renamed to Saint-Élie.

History

Gold mine in Saint-Élie with the railway

In 1873, gold was discovered in Saint-Élie. The mines were in the middle of the rain forest with no river connection to the outside world. In 1884 construction began on a Decauville railway line to Gare Tigre near Saint-Nazaire in order to access the Sinnamary River.^[4]

The railway line needed frequent repairs, and had over 100 bridges. In 1990, the railway line was abandoned when a road opened.^[5] The roads ends near Saint-Nazaire, and a 45-minute ferry to Petit-Saut Dam is needed to reach the outside world.^[6]

Gold is still the backbone of the economy. The gold mines are currently being exploited by Newmont Mining Corporation.^[7] In 1989, construction started on the Petit-Saut Dam to produce hydroelectric power. The dam was completed in 1994.^[8]

Nature

In 1996, La Trinité National Nature Reserve was founded. It covers 76,903 hectares and is primary tropical rain forest located in the heart of the Guyana plateau forest.^[9]

Villages

• Saint-Nazaire

See also

• Communes of French Guiana

References

1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 4 May 2022.
2. "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
3. "South America 1930: Vargas Revolution". Omni Atlas. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
4. "Industrial Railways in French Guiana, 2014". International Steam. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
5. "Quand la Guyane voulait son chemin de fer" (PDF). Alliance Francophone Internationale du Tourisme et des Voyages (in French). Retrieved 4 June 2020.
6. "La barrière de la discorde à Saint-Elie". France TV Info (in French). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
7. "CME Announces Agreement with Newmont on its Esperance Project and Seeks a Partner for its Saint-Elie Property in French Guiana". Globe News Wire. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
8. "Petit Saut Dam". Structurae.net. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
9. "Historique Réserve Naturelle La Trinité" (in French). Retrieved 4 June 2020.

External links