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Geography of Guyana

Location:Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:5 00 N, 59 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 214,970 sq km
land: 196,850 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries:total: 2,949 km
border countries: Brazil 1,606 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Coastline:459 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
Terrain:mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Natural resources:bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Land use:arable land: 2.23%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 97.63% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,500 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
Environment - current issues:water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively

Guyana Quickstats

  • Population: 769,095
  • Area: 214,970 sq km
  • Density: 3.5 /km² (217th)
  • GDP (total): $3.489 billion (157th)
  • GDP (per capita): $4,612 (106th)
  • Literacy: 98.8%

Languages of Guyana

Useful to know

  • Currency: Guyanese dollar (GYD)
  • Dial code: +592

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