When Geography and Astronomy Come Together.

A commune (French equivalent of an township) of around 29,000 residents along the coast of French Guiana. Basically, like a small town. There are many who do not even know what French Guiana is, much less, where this small town being spoken of is. However, it has a very strategic importance.

Kourou is the commune being spoken of. It is located along the northern coast of the French overseas department of French Guiana. What is the importance? Well, if one is into astronomy, listen closely.

Map of French Guiana showing there Kourou is in relation to French Guiana's capital, Cayenne.

Map from BBC.

Kourou is where the Guiana Space Center is located. It is a major place for launching French and other European rockets. Why was Kourou chosen?

1) Kourou is located relatively close to the equator

2) The sea provides a large amount of space that is uninhabited.

In order to have a decent place to launch rockets, lots of uninhabited space is necessary, so that the refuse from rocket launches does not land in inhabited areas. In order to do that, rockets much be launched towards the east.

And being relatively close to the equator means that the spin of the earth will give some extra velocity for rockets being launched in the eastern direction. 

Diagram explaining launching a Russian rocket from Kourou works. RIA-NOVOSTI

There is it. Geography has proven to be very important for astronomy.