Guyana Information, Geography and History

INFORMATION

•  Full name: Co-operative Republic of Guyana

•  Capital City: Georgetown

•  Language: English (official), Creolese, Amerindian, Hindi, Urdu

•  Currency: Guyanese Dollar (G$)

•  Religion: Christian, Hindu, Muslim

•  National Anthem: Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains

•  Newspaper: Guyana Chronicle, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, The Mirror

INTRODUCTION

Surrounded with excellent natural beauty, the location of Guyana gives a splendid view to the turbulent past of the bygone era, which is still retained in full ethnicity. As you visit this land experience the Caribbean traditions well blended with the South American culture. Guyana stretches a long way from the Atlantic shoreline to the dense area of the equatorial forests where one may come across well preserved colonial buildings to boulevards treelines. The wooden architecture in Guyana is well preserved as one must not miss out viewing St. George's Cathedral, which is known as the tallest wooden building within the region. Guyana is the third smallest country in the southern American mainland that can be well compared to the Great Britain as far as size is concerned.

LOCATION OF GUYANA

Guyana is nestled within the Caribbean South America mainland area, lying towards the northern part of the equator. Guyana is engulfed by Suriname towards the eastern front, Brazil towards the south and southwestern front and Venezuela from the western front.

PHYSICAL MAP OF GUYANA

The regions of Guyana can be categorized into five distinct areas namely:

•  The lush swampy plains placed along the Atlantic coast, covered by most of the inhabitants.

•  The dusty white sand belt rich in mineral deposits,

•  The dense rainforest located in the midst of the country,

•  The verdant flat savannah grasslands along the southern region, and

•  The interior highlands composed of high mountains rises that ascend to the Brazilian border.

Some of the important Mountains that are nestled in this region are Mount Ayanganna, Mount Roraima that is known as the highest peak of the province placed along the Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela tripoint area.

One may even come across sharp artificial slopes and waterfalls, like the Kaieteur Falls. The Rupununi savannah is placed along the midst of the Rupununi River along its border area, just close to the Brazil country, which is located in the southern region of the Kanuku Mountains.

Being a part of the West Indies of Caricom Treaty, one may view three major rivers passing through the province from the western region to the eastern front. They are:

• The Essequibo
• The Demerara, and
• The Berbice

CLIMATE OF GUYANA

The climatic condition of Guyana is tropical in its nature where the area is subjected to the trade winds of the northeast, that make the climate relatively hotter and humid. It is during this period, the temperature ascends to literally 30-32 degree C at the daytime while the night witnesses a fall in temperature to about 20-22 degree C. During the noontime the sea breezes respites the local residents from the thriving warm climate.

The best time to tour to this location is during the months of July to November. Guyana is prone to the Caribbean hurricanes, which has never affected the region till date.

July is the hottest month in the Georgetown wherein the temperature descends to about 24°C whereas the month of February being the coolest of all seasons with about 29°C to 23°C.

It is the northwest region of the Guyana that experiences heavy rainfall while the southeast regions are comparatively lighter as far as down pouring is concerned. The Venezuelan border is subjected to average down pouring with about 250 centimeter while the eastern region of New Amsterdam is showered with 200 centimetres while the southern region of Rupununi Savannah witnesses about 150 centimetres. The area is subjected to frequent showering round the year, accompanied with heavy thunderstorms. The mountainous region in the northeastern side witnesses rainfall of about 350 centimeters annually. The coastal areas are showered with slight amount of down pouring during the season of November to January.

FLORA AND FAUNA OF GUYANA

Guyana is vibrant with abundant and unique species of plant and animal kingdom. The coastal region of Guyana is covered with swampy mangrove plantation while the inland is covered with the vast expanses of equatorial forests. Don't miss out the National Flower of the region that is the Giant Victoria Amazonica, popularly known as the Regia water lily, which was named after the Queen Victoria, was found once near the Berbice River. This flower could measure to a size of about 10 to 12 inches in diameter.

Guyana supports about 25,000 species of floras especially concentrating on the family of diverse orchids. One can sight brilliant assortments of sober lilacs hued in bright red and luminous yellow. Catch up with the wonderful scent of the Cattleya violacea, a Fuchsia orchid that spreads along its fragrance all around the rainforest. Filled with about 5,000 different variety of medicinal plant along with Lianas and Vines, which is generally used for constructing beautiful furniture's.

Watch out giant Jaguar roaming freely within the wide-open spaces of the forestland, or witness fishes like Giant River Otter, Black Caiman and Arapaima, that meander along the river waters. There are about 700 species of birds thriving in the region like Harpy Eagle and Guianan Cock of the Rock that can be sighted here.

The native birds of the region are flycatchers, tanagers, gulls, egrets, parrots and hummingbirds. Catch up with the finches and quails along the Savannahs. Within the Kunuku Mountains literally 150 mammal species thrive especially the Giant otter, the Harpy eagle (the largest bird), the Arapaima (the largest freshwater fish). The local rainforest are a home to birds like Toco Toucan, Cock-of the rock and King vulture.

Visit the Shell Beach near the northwest coastal region of Guyana, which is a habitat to innumerable species of wildlife along with native turtles nurtured here.

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