Félou Falls

The Félou Falls (French: Chutes du Félou) are located on the Sénégal River 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) upstream of Kayes in western Mali. The river tumbles 13 metres (43 ft) down an irregular series of rocky steps. The waterfalls mark the furthest point from the mouth of the river that can be reached by boat. In 2009 work started on the construction of the Félou Hydroelectric Plant, a 62.3 megawatts (83,500 hp) run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant at the falls replacing a small 600 kW plant dating from the 1920s.

Historical significance

The falls were historically important as they were the furthest point up the Sénégal River from Saint Louis that could be reached by boat. Because of the seasonal variation in the water level, navigation up to the falls was only possible for a few months after the rainy season. French forces made use of the river in their conquest of the Sudan in the 19th century. In 1855 Louis Faidherbe, the French governor of Sénégal, constructed a fort at the village of Médine, 3 km downstream of the falls, to strengthen French control of the Sénégal River and to act a base in the expansion into the interior.