Sierra Leone River

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The Sierra Leone River is a river estuary on the Atlantic Ocean in Western Sierra Leone. It is formed by the Port Loko Creek and Rokel River and is between 4 and 10 miles wide (6-16 km) and 25 miles (40 km) long. It holds the major ports of Freetown Harbour and Pepel. The estuary is also important for shipping. It is the largest natural harbour in the African continent. Several islands, including Bunce Island, are located in the estuary.[1] Best and longest river in Serria leon


Contents

[edit] Lungi International Airport

Main article: 2007 Paramount Airlines helicopter crash

The river separates downtown Freetown from the country's principal international airport, Lungi International Airport. The primary means of transportation to the airport from Freetown is either ferry or helicopter. In June 2007, after an African Cup of Nations qualifying match between Togo and Sierra Leone in Freetown, a helicopter owned and operated by Paramount Airlines crashed and burst into flames, killing over 20 passengers, including the Togolese minister for sport, Richard Attipoe.[2]

[edit] Ecology

The 295,000 hectares of the Sierra Leone River esturay is classified as a wetland of international importance RAMSAR convention in the west of Sierra Leone.[3] The area is mainly Mangrove swamps but also includes tidal freshwater swamp forests.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sierra Leone River brittanica.com
  2. ^ Crash in Sierra Leone kills at least 20 - Macon.com - Published June 03, 2007. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
  3. ^ World Database on Protected Areas: Site Information, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (2004), retrieved on 10 November 2007
  4. ^ RAMSAR site information service, RAMSAR, retrieved on 10 November 2007

[edit] See also

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