Guyana

Quick Facts

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Capital

Georgetown

Population

710,000

Government

Republic within the Commonwealth

Religions

Christianity, Hinduism, Islam

Languages

English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu

Calling Code

+592

Nationality

Local name

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Introduction

Kaieteur Falls

© All Rights Reserved gt248

Guyana is a land whose modern look and demographic has been powerfully shaped by the influences of Dutch and British colonial times. In order to work their sugar plantations, the colonial powers first brought in African slaves and later, when slavery became illegal, Indian workers. Guyana became an independent nation in 1966, but the effects of colonialism remain. Tension between the descendants of African slaves and Indian workers, as well as a small indigenous population, has held back the country's ability to progress.

Despite these internal problems, Guyana remains an excellent South American destination. In Georgetown, Dutch and British architecture represent the nicer influences of colonialism. Guyana's exquisite natural beauty, characterized by lush rainforest and impressive waterfalls, transform it into an ecotourist's heaven. Hopefully loggers and miners won't get hold of Guyana's untouched wilderness.

Brief History

Geography

Guyana shares international borders with Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela.

Regions

Guyana is divided into 10 regions.

• Barima-Waini
• Cuyuni-Mazaruni
• Demerara-Mahaica
• East Berbice-Corentyne
• Essequibo Islands-West Demerara
• Mahaica-Berbice
• Pomeroon-Supenaam
• Potaro-Siparuni
• Upper Demerara-Berbice
• Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

Cities

• Georgetown
• New Amsterdam
• Lethem
• Linden
• Corriverton
• Bartica

Sights and Activities

Kaieteur Falls

Guyana Kaieteur 1

© All Rights Reserved Flav-Greg

The Kaieteur Falls are amongst the most scenic and highest and Famous Waterfalls in the world. The falls are located in the Kaieteur National Park in the centre of Guyana's rainforest on the Potaro river. The total hight is about 250 meters, but the main fall is slightly less with 226 meters. It is over 100 meters wide and together with the location in untouched rainforest makes it one of the most spectacular to visit. It is not very easy to visit the falls and either time consuming or expensive. Flights are possible but more rewarding is a trek to the base of the falls.

Mount Roraima

Mount Roraima is a table mountain (called tepuis) which marks the border of Guyana with Venezuela and Brazil. Most of the mount is located in Venezuela but officially it is the highest point in Guyana itself at 2810 meters above sea level. The table mountains are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, about two billion years old. The mountain can be reached easily from Venezuela, but from Guyana you have to be an experienced climber.

Iwokrama Forest

The Iwokrama Forest is a large rainforest at about 3710 square kilometre located centrally in Guyana in the heart of the Guiana Shield, one of the four last pristine tropical forests in the world, (others being Congo and the Amazon for example). There is fantastic Canopy Walkway in this forest, one of the largest in the world.

Other sights and activities

• Orinduik Falls Marshall Falls
• The Rupununi Savannah
• The Kanuku Mountains

Events and Festivals

Weather

Guyana has a hot and humid tropical climate with temperatures around 30 degrees Celcius during the day and 20 degrees or slightly more at night. Rain falls mostly from April to August, with a shorter season from late November to January.

Getting there

Plane

Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO) near the capital Georgetown receives all international flights. Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) has flights to and from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Zoom Airlines has connections to and from Toronto. Other destinations include New York, Paramaribo and Belém.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

There are minibuses that travel between Georgetown and the capital of Suriname, Paramaribo, crossing the Corantijn River between New Amsterdam and Nieuw Nickerie (Suriname). Other crossings are in the south at Lethem/Bonfim, the border area with Brazil, but the crossing itself is by foot.

By Boat

Getting around

Plane

Trans Guyana Airways operates domestic flights to about 20 destinations within the country.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

Guyana's roads are mostly unpaved except in the northern parts. Gravelroads can become impassable during the rainy season(s). Normally though, travelling from Georgetown along the coast to the southern town of Lethem will take 10 to 12 hours on average.

By Boat

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