Guiana

Guiana is a geographic region on the northern mainland of South America. The term commonly refers to the trio of territories known as the Guianas: Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. In a broader sense, the name may also be used for parts of nearby Brazil (Amapá) and Venezuela. The area lies on the Guiana Shield, a vast Precambrian geological formation that underlies much of the region and supports extensive tropical rainforest and major river systems that drain toward the Caribbean Sea.

The region is characterized by a tropical climate with high rainfall and dense forests. Its major rivers include the Essequibo, Demerara, and Courantyne in Guyana; the Suriname River in Suriname; and the Oyapock in French Guiana. The Guiana Shield hosts rich biodiversity and numerous protected areas, contributing to the broader Amazonian rainforest ecosystem. The landscape includes low-lying coastal plains and upland plateaus, with many rivers forming rapids and waterfalls.

Politically, Guyana and Suriname are sovereign republics, while French Guiana is an overseas department of France and part of the European Union. Languages reflect the region’s histories: English is spoken in Guyana, Dutch in Suriname, and French in French Guiana, with a variety of indigenous languages and widely used creoles and dialects among the populations.

Economies in the Guiana region rely on natural resources and agriculture. Mining, including gold and bauxite, has long been important, and offshore oil development is advancing in Guyana. French Guiana hosts the Guiana Space Centre at Kourou. Environmental pressures from mining and development are countered by protected areas and conservation initiatives.