Mana | |
|---|---|
 The church of Saint-Joseph of Mana | |
 Location of the commune (in red) within French Guiana | |
Location of Mana  | |
| Coordinates: 5°40′11″N 53°46′41″W / 5.6697°N 53.778°W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas region and department | French Guiana |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni |
| Intercommunality | Ouest Guyanais |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Albéric Benth[1] |
| Area 1 | 6,333 km2 (2,445 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 11,764 |
| • Density | 1.9/km2 (4.8/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−03:00 |
| INSEE/Postal code | 97306 /97360 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Mana (French pronunciation: [mana]; French Guianese Creole: Mannan) is a commune and town in French Guiana. It was founded on 16 August 1828 by Sister Anne-Marie Javouhey.[3] It borders the river Mana, from where it gets its name; and is nearby the river Maroni. Mana is the primary producer of rice in French Guiana, which it exports to Suriname.[4]
On 31 December 1988, about 3% of the territory of Mana was detached and became the commune of Awala-Yalimapo.[5] Awala-Yalimapo is inhabited by Galibi Amerindians.[6]
The first settlement of people from Jura failed in alcoholism and disease. In 1828, the Ministry of the Navy and Colonies sent Sister Anne-Marie Javouhey to colonize the area.[3] Javouhey set out to build a viable community based on agriculture and invited black traders to settle,[7] which was not the white colony as the Ministry envisioned. When 20 escaped slaves settled in the area, she bought them from their owners.[3]
In 1833, Governor Jean Jubelin visited Mana, and appreciated the efforts and progress. Jubelin arranged for orphans to be sent to Mana and the establishment of a leper colony in Acarouany. In 1838, the colony faced a manpower shortage. Javouhey suggested to educate and train 3,000 children of the slaves. The government refused to subsidize the plan, and Javouhey left in 1843.[3]
On 15 October 1950, Sister Anne-Marie Javouhey was beatified by Pope Pius XII.[8]
In 1978, Javouhey was founded as the second Hmong resettlement village in French Guiana. The village is on a former agricultural colony founded by Anne-Marie Javouhey.[9]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 875 | — |
| 1974 | 1,063 | +2.82% |
| 1982 | 1,429 | +3.77% |
| 1990 | 4,945 | +16.79% |
| 1999 | 5,445 | +1.08% |
| 2007 | 8,256 | +5.34% |
| 2012 | 9,334 | +2.48% |
| 2017 | 10,894 | +3.14% |
| Source: INSEE[10] | ||
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.[11]
The Amana Nature Reserve has been established in 1998 to protect the leatherback turtle. The reserve covers 14,800 hectares.[12]
The economy of the area is based on agriculture,[4] and gold mining.[13] Mines in the commune include Coulor,[14] and Délices.[15]
