French Guiana

French Guiana is a non-souvereign overseas département (département d'outre-mer) of France, located on the Caribbean coast of South America.
Settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.

border countries: Brazil, Suriname

related countries: France

Official Name:
Guyane
short form: Guyane
int'l long form: French Guiana

ISO Country Code: gf

Time:
Local Time = UTC -3h

Country Calling Code: +594

Capital City: Cayenne

Other Cities:
Saint-Laurent-of-Maroni, Kourou

Government: Overseas department of France.
Chief of State: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995),

Geography:
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname.
Area: 86 504 sq km
Terrain: Low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains.

Climate: Equatorial tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation.

People:
Population: 195 000
Ethnic Groups: black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: French
Literacy: 83%

Natural resources: Bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), petroleum, kaolin, fish, niobium, tantalum, clay.

Agriculture products: Corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry.

Industries: Construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining.

Exports partners: France 62%, Switzerland 7%, USA 2% (2001)

Imports partners: France 63%, USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2002 est.)

Currency: Euro (EUR)