Suriname, formerly known as Nederlands Guyana, Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana, is a country in South America. It is situated along the Suriname River, between French Guiana to the east and Guyana to the west. It shares its southern border with Brazil, while the northern one is shared with the Atlantic coast. The southernmost border that it shares with French Guiana is disputed. With majority of its landscape covered by rainforest, Suriname boasts of a great diversity in flora and fauna. In the following lines, we have provided some more fun and interesting information on Suriname.
Fun & Interesting Facts about Suriname
- The official name of Suriname is ‘Republic of Suriname’.
- Suriname was formerly known as Dutch Guiana.
- The official language of Suriname is Dutch. Apart from that, English, Sranang Tongo, Hindustani, Chinese, French, Spanish and Javanese are also widely spoken there.
- Majority of the people in Suriname are Roman Catholics, followed by Hindus, Protestants and Muslims.
- The main ethnic groups in Suriname are Hindustani, Creole, Indonesian, Maroon, Native American, Chinese and European.
- The currency of Suriname is Surinamese Dollar.
- The capital of Suriname is Paramaribo.
- Suriname follows the system of ‘Constitutional Democracy’.
- Suriname gained internal government from The Netherlands in 1954 and full independence on 25th November 1975.
- Paramaribo, Lelydorp and Nieuw Nickerie are the largest cities in Suriname.
- Juliana Top (1,230 m) forms the highest point in Suriname.
- Tropical rainforest make up around 80 percent of the landscape of Suriname.
- The Central Suriname Nature Reserve and Historic Inner City of Paramaribo are World Heritage sites.
- Arawak and Carib people were amongst the earliest inhabitants of Suriname.
- Suriname was sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1498, when he was still in the service of Spain.
- Spanish claimed Suriname in 1593, while the first half of 17th century saw British colonists settling in.
- British colony in Suriname was exchanged for Dutch possession of New Amsterdam (now New York), in 1667.
- Slavery was abolished in Suriname in 1863. Thereafter, indentured labor was taken from China, India, and Indonesia, to replace slave labor.
- Aluminum Company of America started mining operations in Suriname in the year 1916.
- Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America, in terms of area and population.
- Bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering and food processing are the main industries in Suriname.
