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the Degree Confluence Project
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Gabon

5.6 km (3.5 miles) E of Kékélé, Ogooué-Ivindo, Gabon
Approx. altitude: 302 m (990 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 0° 168°W

Accuracy: 59 m (193 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View east from the Confluence #3: View south from the Confluence #4: GPS view #5: The nearly full team #6: The machete team #7: R 14 road from Booué #8: On the path #9: The police's 4-WD #10: Turning back home

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  0° 12°E (visit #1)  

#1: View north from the Confluence

(visited by Michel Dupuis, Charles Mboula, Bertrand Nkoumou Obame, Jean Christian Abaga Abaga, Jean Parfait Mouele, Paul Marie Ngoua, Désiré Ndong Mba, Colette Coutin and Jean François Coutin)

31-Jul-2005 -- 0N 12E is in the equatorial forest, 13 kilometres northeast of Booué in the Ogooué-Ivindo province. No road is shown on the maps closer than 6 kilometres. However, looking at satellite views through Worldwind, and Google Earth, allows seeing some curious lines building an irregular net, one of these lines coming quite close to the confluence position. It's unfortunately impossible to learn from the pictures if these lines are rivers (the Belem river is not far), or paths, or only lighter parts of the forest.

Anyway, we try our chance, with the help of the local railway police service in Booué. Booué is a major railway station halfway between Libreville and Franceville on the "Manganese line" operated by the SETRAG company with 5 trains a day each way. The nine of us leave Booué north on the R14 road with two four-wheel drives, as it has been confirmed that forest roads exist in the area!

Leaving the "main" road east before Bissobilam, it appears the forest road records on the GPS exactly with the shape shown on the Google Earth aerial picture, which can be used as a reliable map, as long as there is no cloud on the view. Four kilometres later, we take the right fork on a narrower path, three kilometres later, we take the left fork on a still narrower path, now grass-covered.

The four-wheels are nearly too wide, and we have some trouble passing around fallen trees on the way, or cutting part of them. Eventually, after 4 more kilometres, this path comes to only 250 meters of the confluence point. It's now time to leave the cars and provide the machetes.

As the expedition is strong and well organized by the railway people, the way is quite quickly cut and opened, and ten minutes later we stop at the foot of a big "izombe". Here is the place.

0N 12E has been visited, thanks to the railway police and to Google Earth! The only point is now to turn the cars back the same way...


 All pictures
#1: View north from the Confluence
#2: View east from the Confluence
#3: View south from the Confluence
#4: GPS view
#5: The nearly full team
#6: The machete team
#7: R 14 road from Booué
#8: On the path
#9: The police's 4-WD
#10: Turning back home
ALL: All pictures on one page