French Guiana

French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an overseas department and region of France on the northern coast of South America. It is bordered by Suriname to the west and Brazil to the east and south. French Guiana is very big, covering 84,000 km² (32,000 sq mi). It is the second-largest region of France and the largest outermost region in the European Union. But it has few people, with only about 3.6 people living in each square kilometre.

About half of the people live in its capital, Cayenne. Most of French Guiana is covered by forests, including a lot of primeval rainforest. The Guiana Amazonian Park is the largest national park in the European Union.

French Guiana has been part of France since 1946 and is in the European Union. Its money is the euro. The economy gets help from the Guiana Space Centre, which is the European Space Agency's main launch site. The official language is French, but many people also speak French Guianese Creole, a French-based creole language. French Guiana is the only part of the Americas still ruled by a European country.

Name

The name "Guyana" means "land of many waters." French Guiana is called that because of history. Long ago, there were five places called Guiana along the coast, each ruled by a different country. Today, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname are still called "the Guianas." Together, they form a big area known as the Guiana Shield.

History

Main article: History of French Guiana

See also: French colonization of the Americas and Portuguese conquest of French Guiana

French Guiana has a long and interesting history. Before the French came, many Indigenous groups lived there, including the Kalina, Lokono, Galibi, Palikur, Teko, Wayampi, and Wayana. The French tried to settle the area in the 1500s and founded the town of Cayenne in 1643.

During its early years, French Guiana used enslaved people from Africa to work on farms. Slavery ended in the late 1700s. The area also had a prison called Devil’s Island, where prisoners were sent from France. In the 1900s, French Guiana officially became part of France.

More recently, French Guiana has welcomed people from nearby countries. It has also become an important place for space launches, with a major space center that sends rockets into orbit. The area continues to grow, balancing its unique culture with its role in modern science and industry.

Geography

Main article: Geography of French Guiana

French Guiana is located between 2° and 6° north latitude and 51° to 55° west longitude. It has two main areas: a narrow coastal strip where most people live, and a thick rainforest that rises into hills near the border with Brazil. The highest point is Bellevue de l'Inini in Maripasoula, standing at 851 meters (2,792 feet). There are also smaller mountains and islands near the coast.

French Guiana has a hot and wet climate all year because it is close to the Equator. It rains a lot, especially from December to July. The area has many plants and animals, with protected forests and nature reserves.

French Guiana has many types of natural areas, like rainforests, mangroves, and wetlands. It is home to thousands of plant and animal species. Laws help guard these places.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of French Guiana

French Guiana is part of France and the European Union. It is the largest area outside of Europe that belongs to the EU. The president of France is the head of state, and the prime minister of France is the head of government. The president appoints a prefect to lead the local government from Cayenne.

French Guiana sends two deputies to the French National Assembly and two senators to the French Senate. The Guianese Socialist Party was the main political group until 2010.

One big challenge for French Guiana is managing people who enter the area illegally, especially those looking for gold from nearby Brazil and Suriname. The rivers that form the borders are hard to watch, making it tough to stop everyone. The French government has tried to stop illegal gold mining, but people often return after these efforts end.

Economy

Main article: Economy of French Guiana

French Guiana is part of France and the European Union, using the euro as its money. It has a big economy for South America. From the 1960s to the 2000s, it grew fast because of a large space center and more people coming to live there.

Since 2013, growth has been slower. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 also affected the economy. French Guiana relies on help from France. Its main industries are fishing, gold mining, and timber. The space center near Kourou provides many jobs. There is not much manufacturing, and farming is mostly along the coast. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is growing. Unemployment was high but is improving.

Transport

Main article: Transport in French Guiana

French Guiana’s transportation system is not as developed as in mainland France. Most roads are along the coast, and it is hard to travel inland. There are about 2,200 km of roads, linking main towns like Cayenne and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.

There are no railways except for a small part at the space center. Boats are important for travel, especially on rivers. The main airport is Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport, with flights to Paris and other places. Public buses mainly operate in Cayenne, and there are small buses and boat services between towns.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of French Guiana

French Guiana's population has changed a lot over time. In the past, strict rules and health problems meant few people lived there. But since the 1950s, things have improved. Better health care and new jobs, especially at the Guiana Space Centre, helped more people move there. Many came from France and nearby countries like Suriname and Brazil.

Today, French Guiana has over 290,000 people, and about half of them are younger than 25. People live mostly near the coast. French is the main language, but many other languages are spoken too, showing the mix of cultures there.

Culture

See also: Music of French Guiana, Carnival in French Guiana, and Touloulou

The Carnival is a big celebration in French Guiana. It happens on a Sunday between Epiphany in January and Ash Wednesday in February. People wear costumes and ride on decorated floats with music playing. Preparing for the carnival takes many months. Thousands of people watch the parades.

Groups from Brazil, like those in the Rio carnival, are also enjoyed for their music and costumes. The Chinese community in Cayenne adds special elements like dragons to the parades. In the evening, the Touloulous go to dancings to join the famous paré-masked balls.

French Guiana's buildings mix many styles. You can see Creole design, Amerindian style, and Bushinenge influences. Towns have mostly Creole-style houses with some Western-style buildings and forts. In areas where Black Maroon people live, you’ll find Bushinengue-style houses. Amerindian villages have special pre-colonial houses called carbets. Most buildings use local materials like wood from Amazon forests and bricks made nearby. These styles mix with modern buildings today.

See also: Couac

French Guianan cuisine brings together many cultures. You can find Creole, Chinese, and Native South American foods in places like Cayenne, Kourou, and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. Common ingredients include Manioc, smoked meats, and fish. Popular dishes are Awara broth, Creole galette, Dizé milé, Countess, Cramanioc pudding, Kalawanng, Couac gratin and salad, and Fricasse of iguana.

Sport in French Guiana has been popular for a long time. Today, the most popular sport is football, but many also play basketball, cycling, swimming, and handball. There are also clubs for canoeing, judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, aikido, karate, fencing, horseback riding, rowing, and volleyball.

French Guiana has its own football team called the French Guiana football team. A local league, the LFG, began in 1962. The team, known as Yana Dòkò, is not part of FIFA but competes in other tournaments.

The Tour of Guiana is a big cycling race held each year. It visits main towns like Cayenne, Kourou, and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. The race started in 1950 and has grown over the years. Many different countries take part now. The race did not happen in 2020 or 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.