Everything you need to know about French Guiana: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
French Guiana: French Overseas Territory
French were the first inhabitants of this region coming around in the year 1604. During the Napoleonic wars, the Portuguese and Britishers annexed it. However, the Congress of Vienna restored the French authority. In the year 1789, during French Revolution this territory was used as a place of exile as it was the French penal colony. And after the Second World War, all penal colonies were retrieved and evacuated. And in the year 1947, it became an overseas department of France.
French Guiana fast-facts:
French Guiana Geography, Climate and Economy:
The terrain of French Guiana comprises of flat and low-lying coastal plains along with certain mountainous ranges and hills in some parts. The rainforests spread over to larger areas of the territory thereby, the population is concentrated around the coastal plains. The lowest point is at Atlantic Ocean at 0m and the highest point is at Bellevue de l'Inini at an altitude of 851m.The climate of this region is relatively tropical characterized by hot and humid temperatures. The summer's lasts from August to December followed by the rainy season up to the month of January and from April to July. The average temperature remains at 27 degree Celsius.
The economy of French Guiana is largely derived from fishing and forest resources and the country has 90% forest cover. The main crops grown along the coastal plains include rice and manioc. The main imports of the region are food and energy. Besides this, the main natural resource consists of bauxite, tantalum, clay, gold and timber.
Culture and Cuisine of French Guiana:
The culture of French Guiana comprises of a blend of history and culture of French and other ethnic groups like Creole, Asians and Europeans. This interplay of various cultures is depicted through their language, cuisine, music, artworks and architecture.Predominantly, the Cayenne cuisine is the most significant and popular among the cuisines. The popular dishes include bouillon d`aoura besides including chicken, prawns, aoura and veggies. Besides this, different varieties of roti are famous in some parts of Caribbean and South American regions.
Tourist Attractions in French Guiana:
The capital city of Cayenne offers a plethora of tourist sites. The panoramic view of the whole town along with the port and river can be seen from the Fort Ceperou. The Musee Departmental situated in this city comprises of all significant information on its colonial history of penal colony, the natural history and the archaeological relics. Some other places in this city include Franconie Museum, Museum of Guyanese Cultures and Botanical Gardens.Some other Tourist Sites are :
• Cacao
• Cayenne
• Kourou
• Salvation Islands
• St Laurent du Maroni
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