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moengo is a town in the Moengo district of the same name, located in the district Marowijne, in the far northeast of Suriname. In 2004 the Moengo district had 9,753 inhabitants. The place is located about 107 kilometers east of Paramaribo and 33 kilometers west of albina. From 1932 to 1945 Moengo was the chief town of the Marowijne district, in the period before and after Albina was the chief town of the district.
Info
The place was founded in the early 20th century, after the "Surinaamsche Bauxiet Maatschappij" discovered recoverable stocks of bauxite in the area. Initially, Moengo was only accessible by river. The Cottica River was made navigable for seagoing vessels that came to Moengo to collect bauxite. In 1922 the first bauxite was exported to Trinidad and Tobago to be transported from there to the United States. Moengo had a harbor with a turning basin, where the ships could turn. During the Second World War, the transports were secured by American soldiers and by the Surinamese militias.
During the Interior War that raged between the National Army of Suriname and the Jungle Commando in the 1980s, bauxite mining outside Moengo was considered too dangerous. Moengo, however, also stood on a recoverable layer of bauxite. The town was therefore partly dismantled to be able to extract this bauxite, with part of the houses being sold as kits. When the bauxite layers became exhausted, the bauxite factory was also dismantled. The bauxite mining was moved to the Coermotibo mine. The bauxite is transported from there by push boats to Paranam transported to be processed into alumina.
Arrive
In the late 1920s, a road to Albina was built. An airstrip was constructed in 1955 (code MOJ), and since 1964 Moengo has been accessible from Paramaribo via the road to Albina (East-West connection). Due to the construction of the Jules Wijdenbosch bridge, the travel time from Paramaribo has been considerably shortened. A poorly maintained road leads from Langetabbetje to Moengo.
Travel around
Moengo is well located as a stopping point on the way to Albina. The town is centrally located in the Marowijne district and, moreover, it is at the intersection of the East-West connection with the road to Langetabbetje (and the district Para).
To look at
It staff village is a neighborhood in Moengo that was built by Suralco, the Surinamese subsidiary of the American company Alcoa. You can clearly see the American influences in the architectural style of the beautiful bungalows.
- Villa Casa Blanca is located at the end of the staff village and was/is used by society as a relaxation room. A private club was once established here.
The contemporary art lover should definitely visit the Tembe Art Studio. This foundation was founded by Marcel Pinas. The main building houses studios where young people are taught and where artists in residence come to work. The building is centrally located on the old hospital site. A little further on, a former Suralco warehouse has been converted into an exhibition space. Well worth the visit!
To do
Anyone interested in Surinamese football can visit the stadium of the local football club Inter Moengotapoe in Moengotapoe, a town between Moengo and Albina. However, matches are not played here as the club plays its home matches in Paramaribo.
To buy
Moengo is a mining town, visitors can take home a piece of bauxite as a souvenir.
Food
Hungry travelers can have something to eat and drink at the local Chinese where in addition to softs (sodas) also alcoholic drinks are available (even hard liquor). Furthermore, Moengo does not have much to offer in terms of restaurants.
A good address just outside the center on the road towards Albina: restaurant masanga. This simple restaurant serves honest and, above all, tasty Surinamese dishes. The restaurant is part of the Kibii Foundation, which also includes the Tembe Art Studio.
Going out
In the small, somewhat sleepy Moengo, there is little nightlife to be found.
stay overnight
The Horeca is not crowded in Moengo (see under "Food").
Contact
all around
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