Saint Paul River
Encyclopedia
The Saint Paul River is a river of western Africa
. Its headwaters are in southeastern Guinea
. Its upper portion in Guinea is known as the Diani River or Niandi River, and forms part of the boundary between Guinea and Liberia
. The river then enters Liberia about 50 km (31.1 mi) north of Gbarnga
and crosses Liberia in a southwesterly direction. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean
at Cape Mesurado
in Monrovia
near Bushrod Island
, separating Monrovia from its suburb Brewerville.
The river was named by Portuguese
navigators in the 15th century, who first sighted the river on St. Paul's feast day.
Because the soil around Monrovia
, Liberia
was poor and the coastal areas were covered in dense jungle, many early African-American emigrants to Liberia in the 19th century moved up to the nearby St. Paul River, where they found land suitable for agriculture. There they established small settlements. Also, American Lutheran missionaries set up the Muhlenberg Mission Station along the river, were they taught children various academics, technical/agricultural skills (especially the cultivation of coffee), and catechism. David Day (missionary)
introduced a steam ship to the river for the purposes of commerce and travel. The students at the school built it.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Its headwaters are in southeastern Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
. Its upper portion in Guinea is known as the Diani River or Niandi River, and forms part of the boundary between Guinea and Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. The river then enters Liberia about 50 km (31.1 mi) north of Gbarnga
Gbarnga
Gbarnga is the capital city of Bong County, Liberia, lying north east of Monrovia. Bong County is one of the over 13 political subdivisions of Liberia known as counties. During the First Liberian Civil War, it was the base for Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia...
and crosses Liberia in a southwesterly direction. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
at Cape Mesurado
Cape Mesurado
Cape Mesurado is a headland on the coast of Liberia near the capital Monrovia and the mouth of the Saint Paul River. It was named Cape Mesurado by Portuguese sailors in the 1560s...
in Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
near Bushrod Island
Bushrod Island
Bushrod Island is an island near Monrovia, Liberia surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Saint Paul River and the Mesurado River. It contains the Freeport of Monrovia, the major national port of Liberia and a variety of businesses. It also contains numerous residential areas and government buildings...
, separating Monrovia from its suburb Brewerville.
The river was named by Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
navigators in the 15th century, who first sighted the river on St. Paul's feast day.
Because the soil around Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
was poor and the coastal areas were covered in dense jungle, many early African-American emigrants to Liberia in the 19th century moved up to the nearby St. Paul River, where they found land suitable for agriculture. There they established small settlements. Also, American Lutheran missionaries set up the Muhlenberg Mission Station along the river, were they taught children various academics, technical/agricultural skills (especially the cultivation of coffee), and catechism. David Day (missionary)
David Day (missionary)
David A. Day was a Lutheran missionary who worked in Liberia from 1874 until shortly before his death in 1897. Born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, his early life was filled with hardship...
introduced a steam ship to the river for the purposes of commerce and travel. The students at the school built it.