Oyapock A river in South America, primarily forming the national border between Brazil and French Guiana, an overseas department of France and part of the European Union. It is 485 km long. The basin covers an area of 23,300 km², of which 13,700 km² in France and 9,500 km² in Brazil.
The problem at the border
Territory on what is now the Brazilian side of the river has long been claimed by France and the then colonial power Portugal. Switzerland was used as a mediator to establish the Oyapock as the border river. A memorial stone commemorating this event still stands in the center of the Brazilian border village.
Environmental issues of the Oyapock River
Because gold is found in the area, many illegal gold prospectors work here using mercury. This mercury then enters the river with the wastewater and thus the open environment, posing a serious health risk not only to the flora and fauna. But especially to the indigenous people who traditionally live in the forest. French officials do take action against these people, but they then continue to work on the other side of the river and, after a while, enter French Guiana… The French army has few legal means against people working in mafia structures. Prospectors who do real work and take great health and legal risks are usually in an oppressive. Slave-like working relationship with their „donos“ in the background, who are often unafraid of violence.
The history of the Oyapock River
Vicente Yáñez Pinzón is believed to have been the first European to see the Oiapoque River in the early years of the 16th century. It was translated as the Japoc, Yapoc, Iapoco, Wiapoco and even called the Vicente Pinzón River. The first European colonists referred to the river as the Wiapoco and it was settled by the British Robert Harcourt in 1608 and the Dutch Jan van Ryen in 1627. The name Oiapoque has been officially used since 1900. When a territorial dispute between Brazil and France was settled by Swiss diplomatic arbitration.
Bridge
A bridge was built across the Oyapock River to connect the Brazilian town of Oiapoque and the French town of Saint-Georges-de-l’Oyapock. This is French Guiana’s first international land border link and has been completed since 2011. But remains closed to traffic due to delays in final payments to the construction company. Construction and occupation of Brazilian customs facilities, and minor disagreements between the Brazilian and French governments.
Oyapock River
