The Co-operative Republic of Guyana is a nation on the northern coast of South America, just above the Equator and a part of the western part of the wider region of Guiana. The country is bordered to the east by Suriname, to the south by Brazil, to the west by Venezuela and to the north by the Atlantic Ocean. It is the third smallest country in South America and approximately the size of Great Britain or Idaho.
Guyana is an Amerindian word meaning Land of Many Waters, and the country is mostly characterized by vast unspoiled rain forests dissected by numerous rivers, creeks and beautiful waterfalls. It is also famous as the location of the legendary El Dorado, the inspiration for The Lost World, for its friendly multicultural society, high biodiversity, prize-winning rum, wooden architecture, and Demerara sugar.
Though physically part of South America, culturally, Guyana is more Caribbean than Latin American—demonstrated by the fact that English is the main language.
At the time the first Europeans arrived in the area around 1500, Guyana was inhabited by Arawak and Carib tribes of Amerindians. European settlement began in the early 17th century with the Dutch, who established three separate colonies; Essequibo (1616), Berbice (1627), and Demerara (1752). The British assumed control in the late 18th century and the Dutch formally ceded the area in 1814. The three became a single British colony known as British Guiana in 1831.
The abolition of slavery in 1834 led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured labourers from Madeira (Portugal)(beginning in 1834), Germany (first in 1835), Ireland (1836), Scotland (1837), Malta (1839), China and India (beginning in 1838) to work on the sugar plantations. In 1889 Venezuela claimed the land up to the Essequibo. Ten years later an international tribunal ruled the land belonged to British Guiana.
Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and became a Republic in 1970, remaining a member of the Commonwealth.
Guyana can be divided into three regions: a narrow and fertile marshy plain along the Atlantic coast where most of the population lives, then a white sand belt more inland consisting of dense rainforests and containing most of Guyana's mineral deposits, and finally the larger interior highlands consisting mostly of mountains that gradually rise to the Brazilian border. Guyana's main mountains are contained here, including Mount Ayanganna (2042 m) and on Mount Roraima (2,835 m - highest mountain in Guyana) on the Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela tripoint, part of the Pakaraima range. There are also many steep escarpments and waterfalls, including the famous Kaieteur Falls. Between the Rupununi River and the border with Brazil lies the Rupununi savannah, south of which lie the Kanuku Mountains. There are many rivers in the country, the main four being (west to east) the Essequibo, the Demerara, the Berbice and the Corentyne along the border with Suriname. At the mouth of the Essequibo are several large islands. The 145 km Shell Beach along the north-west coast of Guyana is a major breeding area for turtles and other wildlife.
The local climate is tropical and generally hot and humid, though moderated by northeast trade winds along the coast. There are two rainy seasons, the first from May to mid-August, the second from mid-November to mid-January.
The Culture of the South American nation, Guyana, is very similar to that of the English speaking Caribbean. It is so similar that Guyana is included and accepted as a Caribbean Nation. Only its geographical location separates it from the rest of the English speaking Caribbean. Guyana shares similar interests with these islands in the West Indies, such as food, festive events, music, sports, etc.
Things you should know when travelling to Guyana
Crime levels in Guyana are high. Break-ins, armed robberies, car thefts, car jacking and kidnapping for ransom have been common occurrences. Although there had been some improvements in the level of criminal activities in recent months due to increased and more efficient police work, the recent devastation caused by massive floods in Guyana may cause an increase in petty crimes and other crimes against property. Canadians should therefore exert extreme caution at all times, particularly in Georgetown, along the East Coast Demerara (especially in the vicinity of the villages of Buxton, Friendship and Annadale), the East Bank Demerara region. Canadians should also avoid going to Stabroek market, Tiger Bay and South Georgetown areas.
