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Capoey

Coordinates: 7°11′36″N 58°32′02″W / 7.1932°N 58.5340°W / 7.1932; -58.5340
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Capoey
Village
Capoey is located in Guyana
Capoey
Capoey
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 7°11′36″N 58°32′02″W / 7.1932°N 58.5340°W / 7.1932; -58.5340
Country Guyana
RegionPomeroon-Supenaam
Government
 • ToshaoRalph Hendricks[1]
Area
 • Total9.31 km2 (3.59 sq mi)
Population
 (2012)[3]
 • Total523
 • Density56/km2 (150/sq mi)

Capoey is a village in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region of Guyana. The village is mainly inhabited by Lokono Amerindians.[4] It is located on Lake Capoey, a blackwater lake, which is one of largest lakes of Essequibo.[4]

History

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Capoey was originally settled by Wapishana who named the village. The name translates to "Land of the Rising Moon". The tribe was wiped out by a plague. A group of Lokono Amerindians who were enslaved on a plantation on the Essequibo coast escaped from captivity, crossed the lake, and resettled the abandoned village.[1] In the early 20th century, a mission was founded by the Methodist Church.[2]

Overview

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The economy of Capoey is based logging, subsistence farming, gold mining,[2] and tourism has become important.[5] The village has a primary school, village office,[2] and a health care clinic.[4] The village provides free transportation to the coast for secondary and trade education.[2] Electricity is provided by solar panels.[4]

Lake Capoey

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Lake Capoey is one of the largest lakes in Essequibo. The lake is known for its large beige beaches, black water,[4] and benabs (palm thatched hut).[1] The lake is steadily growing in size.[4]

Transport

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The lake is accessible via a side road of the Essequibo Coast Road. The village is located on the other side of the lake, and can only be accessed by boat. There is a tiny hamlet on the northern edge of the lake called Mary Point which is part of the Capoey reserve.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Jemima Holmes (15 November 2021). "Lake Capoey: Land of the Rising Moon". iNews Guyana. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "CAPOEY: A hidden paradise". Guyana Chronicle. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  3. ^ "2012 Population by Village". Statistics Guyana. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Joanna Dhanraj (25 November 2018). "Capoey". Stabroek News. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  5. ^ Jemima Holmes (28 November 2021). "Capoey hoping to produce star athletes, but needs resources". iNews Guyana. Retrieved 3 December 2021.