Guyanas

The Guianas, or the Guyanas, is a region on the northern coast of South America. It comprises Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, an overseas department of France. In some definitions, the term also includes the Guayana Region of Venezuela. The area lies on the Guiana Shield and features tropical rainforest, savannas, and the Guiana Highlands, with drainage toward the Orinoco and Amazon basins. The Caribbean coast forms its northern boundary.

Historically, the three main political entities arose from European colonialism. Guyana achieved independence from Britain in 1966; Suriname from the Netherlands in 1975; French Guiana remains part of France. The region thus shows three distinct administrative arrangements and languages: English in Guyana, Dutch in Suriname, and French in French Guiana.

Economies vary: Guyana has developed a substantial offshore oil sector since the 2010s; Suriname relies on mining, especially gold and bauxite, with growing oil activity; French Guiana is an outermost region of the European Union and hosts the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, which supports space launches. Biodiversity and ecotourism are important in many areas, and rainforest protection is a regional concern.

Demographically, the Guianas are diverse, with Indigenous peoples and peoples of African, Indian, mixed, and other heritages. The population speaks multiple languages, including English, Dutch, and French, along with regional languages such as Sranan Tongo and various Amerindian languages. The region is known for its multicultural cities along the coast and vast forested interior.