French Guiana

French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. It is bordered by Suriname to the west and Brazil to the east and south. French Guiana covers a large area of 84,000 km² (32,000 sq mi), making it the second-largest region of France and the largest outermost region within the European Union. Despite its size, it has a very low population density, with only about 3.6 people living in each square kilometre (9.3/sq mi).

About half of its residents live in its capital, Cayenne. Nearly 99% of French Guiana is covered by forests, much of it primeval rainforest. The Guiana Amazonian Park, the largest national park in the European Union, covers a big part of the territory.

French Guiana has been fully integrated in the French Republic since 1946 and is part of the European Union. Its official currency is the euro. The economy benefits greatly from the Guiana Space Centre, which is now the European Space Agency's main launch site near the equator. The official language is standard French, but many people also speak French Guianese Creole, a French-based creole language. French Guiana is the only territory on the mainland of the Americas that is still under the sovereignty of a European state.

Name

The name "Guyana" comes from an old word meaning "land of many waters." When people talk about "French" Guiana, it’s because of history. Long ago, there were five places called Guiana along the coast, each ruled by a different country. From west to east, these were Spanish Guiana (now part of Venezuela), British Guiana (now Guyana), Dutch Guiana (now Suriname), French Guiana, and Portuguese Guiana (now part of Brazil). 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 rich history. Before the French arrived, many Indigenous groups lived there, including the Kalina, Lokono, Galibi, Palikur, Teko, Wayampi, and Wayana. The French first tried to settle the area in the 1500s, founding the town of Cayenne in 1643.

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

In more recent times, French Guiana has welcomed people from nearby countries, including refugees and those looking for new opportunities. 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 and change, 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 several 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, and the eastern part has a short dry spell from August to November. The area is rich in different plants and animals, with many 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, making it very important for nature protection. Laws help guard these places, though some threats like mining and hunting still exist.

The soil in French Guiana is not very rich, which makes farming difficult. People sometimes clear land by burning to improve the soil for a short time. Scientists are studying ways to make the soil better for growing crops.

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 several operations 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 is one of the larger economies in South America. From the 1960s to the 2000s, it grew quickly, helped by a big space center and more people moving there.

However, since 2013, growth has been slower and uneven. The economy was also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. French Guiana depends a lot on support from France and has industries like fishing, gold mining, and timber. The space center near Kourou remains important for jobs. There is little manufacturing, and farming is mostly near the coast. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is growing. Unemployment has been high but has been getting better in recent years.

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 inland areas are hard to reach. There are about 2,200 km of roads, including national roads that connect main towns like Cayenne and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.

There are no railways, except for a small part used 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 serve Cayenne, and there are also small buses and boat services for travel between towns.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of French Guiana

French Guiana has seen big changes in its population over time. In the past, when it was known for strict rules and health problems, not many people lived there. But since the 1950s, things have improved a lot. Better health care and new jobs, especially at the Guiana Space Centre, helped the population grow fast. Many people moved there 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. The place has many different groups of people, with most living near the coast. French is the main language, but many other languages are spoken too, showing the rich 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 is one of the longest carnivals in the world, happening on the afternoon of Sunday between Epiphany in January and Ash Wednesday in February. People dress up in costumes based on a theme and ride on decorated floats while music plays. Preparing for the carnival takes many months. Thousands of people watch the parades along the sidewalks and bleachers set up just for the event.

Groups from Brazil, similar to those in the Rio carnival, are also enjoyed for their music and beautiful costumes. The Chinese community in Cayenne adds special elements like dragons to the parades. In the evening, the Touloulous, special characters of the carnival, 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. At Easter, people eat Awara broth. For weddings, they often serve Colombo, a special type of curry.

Sport in French Guiana has been popular for a long time. In the past, people enjoyed foot races, donkey races, canoe races, and more. 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. It played its first match in 1936 and has had big wins and losses since then. The team takes part in events like the CONCACAF Nations Cup and the Caribbean Nations Cup.

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.