French Guiana
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French Guiana (French: Guyane française,
officially Guyane) is an overseas département (département
d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France, located on the
Caribbean coast of South America and part of
Caribbean South America. Like the other DOMs,
French Guiana is also a région (région
d'outre-mer) of France. It is the smallest
political entity on the South American mainland
(Suriname is the smallest independent South
American country). It borders the Atlantic Ocean
to the north, Brazil to the east and south, and
Suriname to the west (part of the eastern border
with Suriname is disputed).
History
Main article: History of French Guiana
First settled by the French in 1604, French
Guiana was the site of notorious penal
settlements (see Devil's Island) until 1951.
Geography
Main article: Geography of French Guiana
French Guiana consists of two main geographical
regions: a coastal strip where the majority of
the people live, and dense, near-inaccessible
rainforest which gradually rises to the modest
peaks of the Tumac-Humac mountains along the
Brazilian frontier.
French Guiana's highest peak is Bellevue de
l'Inini (851 m). Other mountains include Mont
Machalou (782 m), Pic Coudreau (711 m) and Mont
St Marcel (635 m), Mont Favard (200 m) and
Montagne du Mahury (156 m).
The Barrage de Petit-Saut hydroelectric dam in
the north of French Guiana forms an artificial
lake and provides hydroelectricity. There are
many rivers in French Guiana.
Several small islands are found off the coast,
the three Iles du Salut Salvation Islands which
includes Devil's Island and the isolated Ile de
Connetable bird sanctury further along the coast
towards Brazil.
A chronic issue is the influx of illegal
immigrants and illegal gold prospectors from
Brazil and Suriname. The border between French
Guiana and Suriname is formed by the Maroni
River which flows through rainforest and is
difficult to patrol for French Gendarmerie
forces. (The border line with Suriname is
disputed.) Illegal gold mining generates
pollution, especially by mercury, and is also a
vector for alcoholism and sexually-transmitted
diseases.
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