Iracoubo

The settlement of Iracoubo, seat of the commune, is located between the settlement of Sinnamary and the hamlet of Organabo.

The village of Bellevue is {{cvt|5|km}} west of Iracoubo.

Trou Poisson, a near abandoned village is located to the south. The village has a cemetery of priests deported during the French Revolution.{{cite web|url=http://www.sepanguy.com/files/ressources/depliant_savanes_wwf.pdf|title=Les savanes littorales de Guyane|publisher=World Wide Fund for Nature|access-date=5 March 2021|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923201241/http://www.sepanguy.com/files/ressources/depliant_savanes_wwf.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The commune was originally settled by Amerindians near Organabo. The first settlers arrived in 1626, but were driven back. In 1765, the Galibis who had left the area for Suriname because an epidemic had broken out, returned.{{cite web|url=http://www.iracoubo.fr/patrimoine/histoire-de-la-commune/|title=Historie de la commune|website=Iracoubo.fr|access-date=3 June 2020|language=fr|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224252/http://www.iracoubo.fr/patrimoine/histoire-de-la-commune/|url-status=dead}}

In the beginning of the 19th century, Iracoubo started as a cotton plantation owned by Colonel Jacquet. In 1859, the cotton shed is donated to the community to serve as church. During the late 19th century indigenous Kalina lived along the Rococoua river in Counama and Organabo.{{cite web|url=https://www.petitfute.com/v36611-iracoubo-97350/|title=Guide Iracoubo|access-date=2 June 2020|website=Petit Futé}} In 1886, Father Raffray arrived in the village, and started to build the Saint Joseph's Church which opened in 1893. The church is notable for its elaborate decorations on the walls and ceiling created by Pierre Huguet, a convict of the penal colony.{{cite web|url=http://www.guyane-guide.com/dossiers/eglise-iracoubo.html |title=L'église d'Iracoubo|website=Guyane Guide|access-date=22 March 2021|language=fr}} Saint-Joseph was declared a monument in 1978.{{cite web|url=https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/PA00105896|title=Eglise Saint-Joseph|website=Pop.Culture.Gouv.fr|access-date=2 June 2020|language=fr}}

In 1912, the introduction of bananas and rosewood strengthened the economy which remains based on agriculture, hunting and fishing. Iracoubo is located on the Route nationale 1 connecting Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni to Cayenne.{{cite web|url=http://www.guyane-guide.com/zone-guyane/iracoubo.htm|title=Iracoubo|website=Guyane Guide|access-date=2 June 2020|language=fr}}

{{anchor|Organabo}}

File:Overview ocean - panoramio.jpg

Organabo is a Galibi village located in the commune. As of 2020, the population is about 200 people, and consisted mainly of elderly people, because the youth had moved on to the city.{{cite web|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/guyane/ouest-guyanais/guyane/coronavirus-a-organabo-sur-le-territoire-d-iracoubo-le-827266.html|title=Coronavirus : Organabo un hameau sur le territoire d'Iracoubo paisiblement confiné|website=Guyane, le Première|language=fr|access-date=5 June 2020}} The village used to be on the estuary of the Iracaoubo River facing the Atlantic Ocean, but is now several kilometres land inwards.{{cite web|url=http://www.une-saison-en-guyane.com/article/culture/habiter-les-cordons-sableux-du-littoral-villages-amerindiens-et-petites-habitations-creoles-a-sinnamary-et-iracoubo/|title=Villages amérindiens et petites habitations créoles à Sinnamary et Iracoubo|website=Une Saison en Guyane|access-date=5 June 2002|language=fr}} The population primarily lives from fishing, and agriculture. In December 2018, the villagers were given communal land.{{cite web|url=https://graineguyane.org/zones-de-droits-dusage-collectifs-dans-les-villages-de-bellevue-et-organabo/|title=Zones de Droits d'Usage Collectifs dans les villages de Bellevue et Organabo|access-date=5 June 2020|language=fr}} The village is self sufficient, and therefore self isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

Crique et Pripri Yiyi is a {{convert|284|km2}} protected area and wetland located in the commune.{{cite web|url=https://inpn.mnhn.fr/espace/protege/FR1100390 |title=FR1100390 - Crique Et Pripri Yiyi |website=Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel |access-date=17 March 2021|language=fr}}

{{anchor|River}}

Iracoubo is also a river in French Guiana. Its mouth is located at {{coord|5.545055|-53.292926|type:river|display=inline|name=Iracoubo (river)}}.{{cite web|title=Iracoubo|website=GeoNames|url=https://geonames.nga.mil/namesgaz/|author=National Geospatial Intelligence Agency}} The river is 160 kilometres long and flows into Atlantic Ocean.{{cite web |url=https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau_Carthage2017/904-0400 |title=iracoubo, l' (fleuve) |website=Sandre Eau France |access-date=20 June 2022 |language=fr |year=2017 |archive-date=7 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807192054/https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau_Carthage2017/904-0400 |url-status=dead }}

• Communes of French Guiana

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{{Communes of French Guiana|state=expanded}}

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Category:Communes of French Guiana