Ngounié is a province of south-central Gabon covering an area of 3,775 kilometres (2,346 mi). Its capital is Mouila . At the 2013 census it had 100,838 inhabitants. In 2016, its governor was Benjamin Nzigou.
17-695: The province is named after the Ngounié River , which crosses it with its many tributaries. In December 1858 the French explorer Paul Du Chaillu navigated the Nguoiné river upstream to Fougamou . On his journey, he met several local tribes whom he described in his diaries of his second voyage. Later, Catholic missions were built in Mandji , Sindara , and Saint Martin, whose architecture attracts many tourists. The geography varies from large expanses of savannah and forest to
34-613: A floodplain within a 220 kilometres (140 mi) valley between the Moukande Mountains and the Massif due Chaillu . After meandering for more than 400 kilometres (250 mi) on the valley floor, it joins the Ogooué prior to Lambaréné . Development in the floodplain occurs mostly in the areas between Lébamba and Mouila, and again from the Fougamou area to the Ogooué at Lambarene. Conservatively,
51-624: A resemblance Bale = to ventilate, to clear away Bali = day Balile = shine Bambige = to tighten Bande = start Bande = bottom Bandebulongu = South Bandekubu = lower abdomen Bandige = to bend Bandimine = to cover Banganga = rootworkers Banyigebibogu = May to June Banze = turn on Bare = to mount, to climb Base = fill Batile = to engulf, to swallow Bé = forked tongue Bebeli = very close to Bèfule = to chip Bège = carry, bring Bèkule = initiate Bele = to be sick Beli = near, close to Beluse = to heal Bembe = touch Bémbige = to rock, to console Bèngusunu = going to meet
68-413: A series of rapids in a river length of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), creating a total head of 20 metres (66 ft) for power generation. The geology in the project area consists of granite gneiss formations. 0°47′38″S 10°29′21″E / 0.79389°S 10.48917°E / -0.79389; 10.48917 Punu language Yipunu also known as Yisira is a Bantu language spoken in
85-504: Is within the Peneplain Chaillu, which features granite gneiss and hills as well as rocky bays. The climate is characterized by its equatorial humidity. The average temperature varies between 23–28 °C (73–82 °F). The relative humidity is commonly greater than 80%. Annual rainfall is measured around 2,000–2,200 millimetres (79–87 in). Wet seasons occur during September–December and March–May. The hydro-power potential of
102-736: The Ikobe River and the Oumba River ; Dollé , which passes through Ndendé ; as well as the Ogoulou , Ngongo and Ovigui rivers. Imperatrice Falls (also known as Samba Falls, or Empress Eugénie Falls), are approximately 10 metres (33 ft) in height. They are located in a river bend in the Ngounié Province , 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Fougamou. Here, the Ngounié measures approximately 150 metres (490 ft) in width and contains small islands. This
119-595: The Ivindo River. It initially flows down from the Chaillu Mountains , along the border with Congo, and then turns northwest, flowing through the towns of Fougamou , Sindara and Mouila before flowing into the Ogooué. The river name, Ngounié, is a French rewording of "Ngugni", which was originally used by Vili language speakers in the Samba Falls/ Imperatrice Falls area in the mid-1800s to call
136-792: The Monts de Cristal in the north to the Chaillu and Ikoundou ranges further south. Steep sloping mountains abut plains and dense forests, savannah, lakes, and rich farmland. Estimated at 101,415 inhabitants, the population of the Ngounié includes significant ethnic diversity including Eshira , Apindjis [ fr ] , Punu , Tsogo , Nzebi [ fr ] , Massango , Vungu and Eviya [ fr ] , who immigrated to Gabon in successive waves, and have lived together peacefully for many centuries. All of these ethnic groups are Bantu . Ethnic group and number of inhabitants Traditional social and religious organizations are still very present in
153-594: The Republic of Gabon and the Republic of Congo by several thousand people, mainly of the Punu and Ghisir ethnic groups, the largest of the four major ethnic groups in Gabon. Yipunu has about 120 thousand native speakers, mainly from the southern Region, including 8 thousand speakers in southern French Congo. It is classified as B.43 in the Guthrie classification. Below is a lexicon from
170-469: The "Parlons Yipunu", collected by Mabik-ma-Kombil. A = he/she Agunyi = where? Agunenyi = who is it? Agon = over there Agunu = here (to here) Amumu = in there Amune = over there Ani = who, which one? Anàne = it's like that, that's it Avene = there Avave = here Avenyi/Avè = where Ba = they Babàke = cut quickly Babàse = fill quickly Babile = to burn Babule = flambé (an animal) Bagule = find Bagunu = to resemble Bagusunu = find
187-623: The Ngounié River has been proposed to be tapped by a hydroelectric project located on the Empress Eugénie Falls. The project is planned as a 56 MW run-of-the-river scheme with four units 14 MW capacity each. Two additional units of 14 MW have also been planned for completion in 2015, thus taking the total installed capacity of the station to 84 MW. The project utilizes the main Empress Eugénie waterfall of about 12 metres (39 ft) and
SECTION 10
#1732851779913204-463: The daily life of the province, especially Bwiti and Ndjembé [ fr ] (female secret society). Popular legends say that the province of Ngounié is protected by several genies. Thus the sirens Ipeti and Mougoumi, female genies living in Dola and Ngounié respectively, would according to legend be the protectors of Ndendé and Mouila . Tsamba, a male genie, and Magotsi, a female genie, would be
221-514: The estimated valley flood land area is approximately 150,000 hectares (370,000 acres). The left bank is characterized by sandy clay soils. The Ngounié River Valley is formed between the forest-covered Du Chaillu Hills and the Ikoundou Mountains, and has grassy vegetation. The region within this valley is also known as Ngounié . Its tributaries include Louetsié , which passes through Lébamba and Mbigou ; Ikoy , whose main tributary are
238-454: The following provinces: Ngounié is divided into 9 departments: This Gabon location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ngouni%C3%A9 River The Ngounié River (also Ngunyé , French : Rivière Ngounié ) is a river flowing through southwest-central Gabon . It is the last and second most important tributary of the Ogooué River , the first being
255-570: The given languages, and "manga" refers to dwarf palm trees which grow along its bank. The Ngounié River, with a basin area of about 33,100 square kilometres (12,800 sq mi), is the second largest tributary of the Ogooué River . It rises in the Chaillu Mountains . For 60 kilometres (37 mi), the river has a south and then west flow, and forms a border with Congo . At the Polo River confluence, it changes direction, heading northwest, before passing through three waterfalls. It then establishes
272-493: The northern border of their district, "Nsina-Ngugni". When Robert Bruce Napoleon Walker and Paul Du Chaillu arrived in the area, they wrote down "Ngouyai" or "Ngunyé". The Gisir and Punu language speakers of Gabon know the river as "Durembu-du-Manga", while the Apindji , Eviya and Tsogo speakers know it as Otembo-a-Manga. The Kele speakers know it as "Melembye-a-Manga". The first part of these names means "body of water" in
289-579: The protectors of Fougamou , which they watch over from the top of the Empress Eugenie Falls. These genies are the symbolic protectors of the departments of the province. They inspire fear and respect in the inhabitants, who honor them by throwing coins and pouring liquor into the rivers they cross. To the southeast, Ngounié borders the Niari Region of the Republic of the Congo . Domestically, it borders
#912087