Lelydorp
| Lelydorp | |
|---|---|
| Resort and town | |
 |
|
 Map showing resorts in Wanica District |
|
 Lelydorp
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| Coordinates: 5°42′06″N 55°14′00″W / 5.70167°N 55.23333°W | |
| Country |
 Suriname
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| District | Wanica District |
| Area | |
| • Total | 149 km2 (58 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 19,910 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (350/sq mi) |
| Time zone | AST (UTC-3) |
A monument in Lelydorp
Lelydorp is the capital city of Wanica District, located in Suriname. With a population of 18,663 (2012), it is the second largest city in Suriname, after Paramaribo. It is located at around 5°42′N 55°14′W / 5.700°N 55.233°WCoordinates: 5°42′N 55°14′W / 5.700°N 55.233°W.
It was originally called Kofi Djompo but was renamed by Cornelis Lely (the Dutch governor of Suriname in 1905) and since then it is known as Lelydorp. Lely was responsible for many large water construction projects in the Netherlands.
The original name Kofi Djompo is said to refer to a maroon rebel leader called Kofi, who was captured by the Dutch and then decapitated. The Dutch took his head on a boat and attached it to a stick as a warning to the other slaves who had escaped and were wandering in the forest. It is said that when the boat reached the middle of the river, the head of Kofi jumped out the boat and disappeared. Kofi means "born on Friday" (Kofi Annan, for example, was born on a Friday). Djompo means "jump".
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Wikipedia