Île
Carabane,
one of the islands of River Casamance
by Wolfgang Schippke, DC3MF
Ile Carabane (12N34, 16W42) is the largest island in the
centre of the River Casamance Delta, flat and mostly mangrove covered.
In the middle of the island stands the town of that name, inhabited by
round 7000 people. A ruined Britsih fortification and the remainds of a
fromer British settlement, abandoned today, stands on the most eastern
point, 69 m high, of the island. On the most norther point, Itou Point,
stands a triangular topped lighttower. Ther is a small habour on the north-east
side of the island. The island is partly cultivated and overgrown by trees
and bushes. In the navigable riverarms round the island are several dangerous
drying sandbars, extending south and east of the island. Several other,
some smaller islands, are grouped round Carabane, like Ile Bayancassar
and Ile Dijogue.
The first settlement was founded by the France in 1659 on the island. Between
1758 to 1814 the island was occupated by British Troups, but returned to
France in September 1814.