Kourou (river)

Kourou
File:Kourou river black birds boats.jpg American black vultures on the shore of the Kourou River
Kourou (river) is located in French Guiana Kourou (river)
Location
Country	French Guiana
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Amazon Rainforest
Mouth	Atlantic Ocean
• coordinates	5°9′10″N 52°37′45″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)

The Kourou (French pronunciation: [kuru]) is a river in French Guiana, discharging into the Atlantic Ocean. It is 144 km (89 mi) long. The town of Kourou is located at its estuary, which is generally used as a pleasure port. 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.