Guianas

The Guianas are a region in northern South America that comprises three political entities: Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Located on the Guiana Shield, the area borders the Caribbean Sea to the north and features extensive tropical rainforest and major river systems. Prominent rivers include the Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice in Guyana; the Suriname and Maroni in Suriname; and the Oyapock in French Guiana. The interior includes rainforest, wetlands, savannas, and notable natural features such as Kaieteur Falls in Guyana.

Historically inhabited by Indigenous peoples such as the Arawak and Carib, the Guianas were colonized by the Dutch, French and British from the 16th century. They developed plantation economies based on enslaved labor. In the 20th century, Guyana (1966) and Suriname (1975) gained independence; French Guiana remains an integral overseas department of France and part of the European Union.

Population is ethnically diverse, with Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Caribbean communities, Maroons, Indigenous peoples, and descendants of other immigrant groups. English is the official language in Guyana; Dutch is official in Suriname; and French is official in French Guiana, with numerous creoles and Indigenous languages widely spoken.

Economies vary across the region. Guyana has become a petroleum producer, while Suriname relies on mining, especially bauxite, and gold. French Guiana benefits from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou and ties to France and the EU. The Guianas share a tropical Atlantic and Caribbean-oriented economy, biodiversity, and a history shaped by colonialism and cross-cultural exchange.