There are three main regions: the coastal plain in the north, a hilly plateau in the middle, and the Tumac-Humac Mountains in the south. Most of the interior 83 percent of it is dense tropical rain forest. There are more than twenty rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean from French Guiana.
The most important of these are the Oyapock, which forms the southeastern border with Brazil, and the Maroni, which forms the border with Suriname.
The population in French Guiana was approximately , Around 40 percent of the population lives in the capital of Cayenne. African and Afro-Europeans make up 66 percent of the total population with Europeans making up another 18 percent and east Asians, Chinese, Amerindians, and Brazilians making up the remainder.
In the sparsely populated interior the Oyampi and Palik tribes still follow a traditional pre-columbian way of life. There are also a few tribes descended from African slaves who escaped from plantations to live a lifestyle similar to their native central Africa. Linguistic Affiliation. The official language is French.
All business and most common dialogue is conducted using the mainstream French. The native tribes in the interior, however, use their own language, and the African tribes use Taki-Taki, a pidgin English. The heavy influence of the French culture is evident throughout the country, and in the capital many of the customs and attitudes of France predominate.
Emergence of the Nation. The Arawak Indians are the people first known to inhabit French Guiana. The next major waves of people were the Caribs. These peoples came from the Amazon and traveled to the Antilles most of the islands of the West Indies.
The Caribs displaced many of the Arawak. During the age of discovery and Christopher Columbus's journeys, the Caribs were still traveling through the Caribbean. The French were the first Europeans to settle in French Guiana. They arrived in the early s, when many of the European powers were colonizing the Americas and looking for the lost city of gold, El Dorado. Between the climate and Indian attacks the first settlement was a failure.
In the French settled again and this time they did not leave. Cayenne was founded as the capital some time later and it has remained the country's largest city. Plantations were established in parts of the land, forming an economic base. Following a series French Guiana of agricultural failures and culminating with the abolition of slavery in , most of the plantations closed. One of the agricultural settlements located in Kourou became the infamous Devil's Island penal colony.
France had sent many political prisoners to French Guiana during the French Revolution; now the most hardened and notorious criminals and dissidents were also sent over the ocean to the penal colony.
In nearly one hundred years of operation Devil's Island received more than seventy thousand prisoners. All camps were closed in Twenty years later Kourou was once again in the spotlight of France and receiving its people.
This time, however, scientists—not prisoners—were arriving, to construct and operate the European Space Agency's rocket-launching center. In French Guiana ceased being a colony and became an official overseas department of France. The s saw the rise of a pro-independence party, but ultimately the group lost power because the majority of French Guianese support being a part of France. National Identity. In the political and cultural sense there is no national identity.
The nation for the French Guianese is France. The diversity of ethnic groups and the lack of common history add to the problem of internal national identity. The Amerindians living in the central part of the country seem to identify the least with the French and European way of life.
Ethnic Relations. A complex weave of ethnicity and culture forms French Guiana's population. The Creole population, itself a large mix of ethnicity and culture, comprises the largest ethnic group and has had the greatest influence on the country's culture. Fewer than one hundred of the native settlers, the Arawaks, currently live in the central part of the country.
The Caribs have a few small communities along the coast and have mingled with the Creoles. There is also a noticeable settlement of Vietnamese who came over in the early and middle parts of the twentieth century.
The cultures interact fairly well and inherently adopt and adapt to local flavors. Considering the small population, the larger culture is forced to recognize all of its peoples. With the exception of the Amerindian tribes in the interior, most people live in one of the cities. Cayenne alone has 40 percent of the population. Houses range greatly in size and uniqueness, but the relative prosperity that results from living under the French flag allows the houses to be built of decent quality, and almost all have running water and electricity.
They are usually painted light colors such as blue and yellow in keeping with the Caribbean Creole style. Small gardens are often annexed to the houses. The Amerindian residences in the interior are usually simple thatched roof huts, following tradition. Food in Daily Life. The diversity of cultures has given the local foods their flavor.
Caribbean and Creole style foods are common along with Western foods and such Asian cuisines as Vietnamese and Chinese. Seafood, especially shrimp, is eaten quite often. Rice accompanies most of the dishes.
Basic Economy. The economy is closely tied to France. Shrimp and other seafood production is the Children washing clothes in a river in Saint Laurent. More than twenty rivers find their way to the Atlantic Ocean from French Guiana. The space agency has become the second most important asset, with predictions for even more growth. Forestry of the untapped interior holds economic potential.
Sugar-cane and other cash crops are grown by the agricultural sector. Commercial Activities. Family members still comprise the farm labor. Locally grown vegetables and fruit are sold in markets along with fish and meats. The demand for livestock is heavy and likewise can be profitable for the sellers. Small craft-work is sold to both tourists and locals. The building materials for these crafts and for carpentry projects are also sold.
Among the major buyers of these materials are the many small-scale construction companies. The service sector is also important at the local level. Major Industries. The major industries are shrimp and fish processing and aerospace. Lumber and construction are secondary industries. The agricultural products are sugar, rice, manioc, cocoa, vegetables, and bananas. Cattle, pigs, and poultry are the main livestock animals. The major exports are shrimp, lumber, gold, rice, rum, rosewood essence, and clothing.
France bought the bulk of the products, more than 60 percent, with the United States, the European Union, and Japan buying the rest. French Guiana has always bought much more then it sold, resulting in high trade deficits since its inception. S of goods, such as processed meats, grains, machinery, fuels, and chemicals.
The largest import partner is of course France, with Germany, Belgium, and the United States making up the remainder. A large national debt has accrued because of the constant trade deficit. Division of Labor. The total labor force in was 58, With time, it catered to all three types of launch vehicles — the heavy load Ariane 5, the medium-weighted Soyuz, and the lighter one named Vega.
The geographical location of Kourou is very well suited to the commercial launches. Being close to the equator provides an added advantage for being a launch site due to the flexibility in various angle launches. Also, the region is safe from natural calamities like cyclones and earthquakes. The European Union is the main user of the center, and it also caters to launches for industries in the USA, Japan, Canada, and other countries. Most of the launches are for weather analysis and telecommunications purposes.
You can read more about the Space Center here. You can also visit the Space Center and the museum located there. The available places to watch the launch can be checked by contacting the Space Center during your visit. One such place is the beach at Kourou or Montagne Carapa. The culture of French Guiana is heavily influenced by France. At the same time, unique Creole culture is also common in the urban areas, where traditional and colorful costumes are the main highlight.
The vibrant local music of this French territory is a mix of several cultures that come from Europe, Africa, America, and Amerindians. However, some also prefer western clothing like blouses and skirts. While men are often seen wearing shirts and trousers. The carnival usually takes place in either January or February. The different cultures also contribute to the rich and unique cuisines of the territory which is a mixture of Bushinengue, and indigenous Creole cuisines.
The Guianese also usually enjoy Creole and Caribbean-inspired foods and love sharing meals during religious events. Seafood prepared with the distinct spices of Guiana such as shrimp, smoked fish, and crabs is the most renowned in the territory.
Whereas, in everyday dishes, rice, beans, and sweet potatoes are a must. Their national dish is Pepperpot which is a combination of stewed meat vegetables, chilies, and other seasonings.
French Guiana is a must-visit place for people who are looking to escape cold weather. The weather here is particularly warm and sunny whenever you choose to visit. For people who love rain, the best time to visit is between April to July or December and January.
Also, make sure to keep sunscreen with high SPF so you remain protected against the sun. The various modes of transport widely used by the Guianese are airplanes, boats, bus and road vehicles. To travel from city to city, the main form of transportation is the buses while the mini-buses help to travel between major areas. Currently, there are 6 urban bus lines which are quite impressive. If you want to explore the territory then the best option is to rent a car.
Pirogue on the Maroni River. Paddling along a jungle-fringed river in a local boat is an exhilarating way to explore French Guiana's seemingly impenetrable wilderness. The rivers flow through the heart of the steamy jungle and are the best way to travel between remote villages and see wildlife in its natural habitat, including capybara, caiman, and monkeys.
Typically, guides offer cruises in pirogues, dugout canoes carved from local wood. One of the most popular rivers to paddle is the Maroni River, on the border of French Guiana and Suriname. This is the country's longest and most populated waterway and provides a chance to encounter Amerindians and Maroons and learn about their culture.
The kilometer Sinnamary River cuts through the Amazon rainforest. Peaceful pools and swirling rapids punctuate this unspoiled, wild waterway. Another option is the Oyapock River. Rich in gold mining history, it offers both a wilderness experience and a chance to meet Amerindians and Brazilians, who make their home along its banks.
On the Approuague River , paddlers will find the highest rapids in French Guiana, as well as pristine forests. Camp de la Transportation. In the border town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni , at the chilling Camp de la Transportation, prisoners arrived for processing and transfer to penal colonies throughout the territory. After walking through the same gates as former inmates Alfred Dreyfus and Papillon, you can see rusty shackles and solitary confinement cells with tiny windows.
Abundant foliage has softened some of the grim history here, but the impression of past brutality lingers. Self-guided tours are free, or for a fee, French-speaking guides will take you on a more detailed tour. Look for Papillon's name engraved in one of the cells, and bring water and sun protection, as it can be hot walking around in the blazing sun.
For a spicy snapshot of local life, head to Cayenne's main market in Place Victor Schoelcher. This town square is named after the man who ended slavery in French Guiana, and shopping here is one of the top things to do in Cayenne while you're visiting French Guiana. Exotic aromas waft through the air, and the market stalls brim with tropical fruits, perfumes, fragrant spices, and Asian-inspired snacks. You can relax with a hot bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup, sip tropical juices, pick up some fresh-plucked produce, or purchase locally made handicrafts and souvenirs.
The museum tucks into a simple wooden Creole house built in the 19th century by the Franconie family. Exhibits cover indigenous people, colonial history, and the penal colony, but the signs are only in French. Of note are the large stuffed black caiman and the Butterfly Room.
Hmong refugees transplanted from Laos in the s are the main ethnic group in this small Asian village of wooden stilt houses. Sunday is the best day to visit, when the popular market features Hmong embroidery and weaving, as well as local noodle soups. However, the territory was largely neglected by Paris, and continued to deteriorate until civil unrest broke out in the s. After a security crackdown, the central government promised various improvements.
These failed to materialise until the Mitterrand presidency, under which a series of reforms was introduced in and Some decentralisation also took place: local affairs are now dealt with by the Regional Council.
The domestic political agenda has been generally dominated by heated complaints over the territory's relatively poor social and economic conditions compared to those in France. The alternatives to being an integral part of the French state are self-government and independence.
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