The coastline of Suriname has a length of 360 km; from north to south, the country stretches for more than 400 km. The population of the country is 428 thousand people (1998). The capital and the only major city is Paramaribo (180 thousand inhabitants). Other significant cities are Nieuw Nickerie, Albina and Mungo.
Nature.
On the territory of Suriname, one can distinguish the coastal Guiana lowland, the savannah belt and the tropical forest belt of the Guiana Plateau.
The Guiana lowland, from 25 km in the east to 80 km in the west, is composed of alluvial and marine sands and clays. The surface is flat, marshy, in some places crossed by coastal ridges and dissected by rivers. Separate forest areas have been preserved. Small centers of agriculture are confined to coastal ramparts and drained areas of marshes.
To the south, on the slopes of the Guiana Plateau, a narrow belt of savannahs is common. The soils here are infertile, agriculture is poorly developed and has a consumer character.
The Guiana Plateau is composed of ancient crystalline rocks. The surface is largely covered by tropical rainforest. Against the general smoothed background, watershed mountain ranges and ranges stand out, especially the Wilhelmina Mountains with the highest point of the country - Mount Juliana (1230 m). On the southern slopes of the highlands, partly located within Suriname, savannahs reappear.
The country is crossed by four large rivers flowing in a northerly direction: Koranteyn, along which part of the border with Guyana, Koppename, Gran Rio, Suriname and Marowijne (the latter forms the border with French Guiana) passes. For agriculture and transportation of goods, the Kottika and Commeweine rivers, which flow into the Suriname River near its mouth, the Saramakka, which flows into Koppenam, also near the mouth, and the Nickerie, a tributary of the Korantein, are also of great importance. Because of the rapids, ships can only move within the coastal lowlands, so until recently, the southern regions of the country were practically isolated from the outside world.
The climate of Suriname is subequatorial, humid and hot. The average monthly temperatures range from 23° to 31° C. The average annual rainfall is 2300 mm in the plains and more than 3000 mm in the mountains. There are two wet seasons (from mid-November to February and from late March to mid-July) and two dry seasons (shorter from February to mid-March and longer from August to mid-November).
population and society.
In the 1990s, Suriname's annual population growth averaged 0.9%. About 90% of the population is concentrated in the coastal zone, primarily in Paramaribo and its suburbs. In the interior, the population density is extremely low.
The birth rate in Suriname tends to decrease - from 26 per 1000 in 1985–1990 to 18.87 per 1000 in 2004. The death rate is 6.99 per 1000. Thus, the natural increase of the population, 1.7% per year, is one among the lowest in Latin America. At the same time, the actual population growth is significantly reduced due to emigration, which increased sharply after 1950. By 1970 its level was 2% per year, by 1975, when the country gained independence, it reached 10%. A new wave of emigration rose after the political upheavals of 1980 and 1982. The total number of emigrants to the Netherlands reached 180 thousand by 1987. In 1998, the emigration rate was 9 people per 1000. At the same time, immigration into the country remains very small.
Surinamese society is characterized by ethnic stratification. According to 1997 data, 37% of the population of Suriname were Indians, descendants of immigrants who came to the country in the 19th century; 31% are blacks and mulattos, who are called Creoles in Suriname; 15.3% are from Indonesia; 10.3% - the so-called. "forest negros", descendants of runaway slaves living in the interior of the country; 2.6% - Indians, the indigenous inhabitants of the country; 1.7% are Chinese; 1% are Europeans and 1.1% are representatives of other ethnic groups.
Creoles, who make up two-thirds of the urban population, are settled mainly in Paramaribo and its suburbs. Indians are concentrated in the most productive agricultural areas. They make up less than a quarter of the urban population. The Indonesians are located in the less fertile agrarian areas, they form the majority only in the district of Commeweine, where they are employed as wage laborers on the plantations. Indians and "forest blacks" mainly live in the interior of the country.
The ethnic diversity of Suriname is also manifested in the language. The official language is Dutch, but many Surinamese do not consider it their mother tongue, and some do not know it at all. The language of interethnic communication was the Sranan Tongo language, born in a Negro-mulatto environment, in other words, Negro English, or bastard English, also called Toki-Toki or Surinamese. At least 16 other languages are spoken in the country, including Hindi, Indonesian, Chinese, two "forest black" languages - Aukan and Saramackan, and at least four Indian languages.
The same diversity is observed in confessions. Christianity is represented by Protestant (mainly Moravian, 25.2%) and Roman Catholic (22.8% adherents) churches. Indians practice Hinduism (27.6%) or Islam (19.6%). Most Indonesians are Islamists, part of the population are Catholics. In Suriname, there are supporters of Judaism and Confucianism. Negroes practice syncretic African-American cults, which include elements of Christianity and pagan rites of healing and evocation of spirits.
The class structure of Surinamese society is very blurred. The struggle for economic and political dominance unfolds between different ethnic groups that dominate some areas of activity. At the same time, class stratification is also observed within ethnic groups. Thus, in the Negro-Mulatto environment, there is a narrow stratum of specialists who have received a European education and government employees, as well as a wide lower stratum of workers with low qualifications or even unskilled ones. Indians in the first half of the 20th century established control over agriculture, and after the Second World War they began to actively master urban professions and now compete with other ethnic groups in all areas of the economy. Indonesians generally remain on the sidelines, forming a stratum of agricultural wage laborers. The Chinese, predominantly employed in urban retail, belong to the middle and upper classes, the "forest blacks" and the Indians living in the wilderness, represent the marginalized groups of the population.
In the 1980s, Suriname experienced a reduction in welfare programs. The Netherlands and some religious communities bear the cost of medical care for the population. The average life expectancy in Suriname in 1998 was 70.6 years (68 for men and 73.3 for women).
Suriname has declared compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 and 12. Economic difficulties have a negative impact on the quality of education. In 1993, 94% of children attended primary schools. The University of Suriname (founded in 1968) and other institutions of higher learning had 4,400 students in 1992. Competently 93% of the adult population. If in 1975 there were 7 daily newspapers in the country, then at the end of the 1990s there were only two (“West” and “Ware Tide”), which are published in the Dutch language.
Government and politics.
In 1975, when Suriname gained independence, a constitution was adopted, according to which the country was proclaimed a parliamentary republic, the former governor-general remained the formal president of the country, and real executive power passed to the cabinet of ministers. As a result of the military coup in 1980, the constitution was abolished. The new constitution, approved by popular referendum in 1987, provides for the popular election for a term of five years of 51 deputies of the legislative body - the National Assembly, which in turn elects the president (head of state) and the vice president, who heads the cabinet, who is appointed by the president himself. The President forms the State Council of 15 people - representatives of political forces, trade unions, business and military circles. The Council of State makes recommendations to the Cabinet and has the power to veto laws coming from the National Assembly. In practice, Lieutenant Colonel Desi Bouterse, who led the coup d'état in 1980 and ruled the country until 1987, enjoyed almost unlimited power as Councilor of State, although his power was somewhat limited after his resignation from the post of commander-in-chief of the army in April 1993.
The judiciary of Suriname consists of a Supreme Court composed of six judges appointed for life by the President and three lower courts. Administratively, the country is divided into 10 districts under the administration of the administrative representatives of the President: Brokopondo, Commeweine, Koroni, Maroweine, Nikeri, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini and Wanika.
After the Second World War, three political parties were formed in Suriname: the National Party of Suriname (founded in 1946), expressing the interests of the small and middle national bourgeoisie of Creole origin, the Indonesian Party of National Unity and Solidarity (1947) and the United Hindustani Party (1949, since 1969 called the Progressive Reform Party, which unites Indians. These essentially ethnic parties were banned after the Bouterse coup d'état in 1980. In 1985 they emerged from the underground and two years later formed the coalition Front for Democracy and Development led by Ronald Venetian. The Front initially opposed the National Democratic Party (NDP), founded by Bouterse in 1987. In the same year, the Suriname Labor Party emerged, which in 1991 joined the Front, which won the 1987 elections. The Front briefly lost power during a military coup in December 1990 , but in the 1991 elections he again won and brought Venetian to the presidency. In 1996, the NDP entered into a coalition with the Indonesian Party and a number of minor parties and led to the victory of its candidate in the elections. Jules Weidenbosch became the new president.
Economy.
The country's economic development was hampered by a small population, lack of well-maintained roads, and political instability. In 1996, Suriname's GDP was $523 million, i.e. $1,306 per capita (GDP reached $1.08 billion in the 1980s). The decline in GDP was due to guerrilla warfare in bauxite mining areas, economic mismanagement, and falling demand and prices for bauxite and aluminium, Suriname's main export products. Bauxite mining, which previously accounted for 80% of exports and 30% of GDP annually, fell in 1997 to 70% of exports and 15% of GDP. In Suriname, large-scale development of bauxite deposits began after the Second World War: then more than 75% of bauxite was exported from Suriname to the United States. Currently, Suriname mined approx. 4 million tons of bauxite per year, and it is one of the ten largest producers of bauxite in the world. The main deposits are concentrated in Paranam and Mungo in the northeast of the country. The bauxite mining industry is controlled by American and Dutch companies. Bauxite mining is highly mechanized, so less than 5% of the working population is employed in this industry. In the 1990s, Suriname exported approx. 300 kg of gold. Deposits of iron ore, copper, nickel, platinum, manganese and kaolin have been explored, but they are not being developed.
In 1981, oil fields were discovered in Suriname. In 1997, its production reached 300 thousand tons and continues to grow at a rapid pace. About 40% of crude oil is exported, the rest goes to energy service for the production of alumina and aluminum. Thus, Suriname has sharply reduced its dependence on other energy sources and imported energy carriers (oil products and coal). In the 1960s, a hydroelectric power station was built in Afobak, providing cheap electricity that is used in the production of aluminum. The country has a number of public and private thermal power plants.
The industry of Suriname as a whole is underdeveloped, so the country imports many essential industrial products, although it provides itself with food. In addition to bauxite mining and processing, Suriname produces beverages, tobacco products, footwear and cement.
60% of all agricultural production in Suriname is rice, mainly from the Nickerie district. Under this culture, approx. 50 thousand hectares. The largest rice plantation is located near Wageningen, it is mostly Indonesian workers. However, in general, small farms predominate. Bananas, palm oil, coconuts, citrus fruits, coffee, beef, chickens stand out among the agricultural products of Suriname. Sugar cane, which for centuries was the basis of the colonial economy, now occupies a very modest place. The importance of shrimp and timber harvesting is growing.
Between 1983 and 1988, the official unemployment rate was 13.2%. In fact, this figure was even higher, especially in Paramaribo, where seasonal agricultural workers flocked in search of work. Unemployment continued to be a serious problem in the 1990s, marked by an economic downturn. In 1998, the share of employees was 49% of the working-age population (100 thousand), of which 35% are employed in the private sector and 16% in state-owned companies. In the 1980s, due to the persistent budget deficit, the country's foreign exchange reserves were significantly reduced. The situation has improved since 1988, when Suriname began to receive financial assistance from the Netherlands, the US, the EU, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.
In 1996, Suriname's export earnings were $457.7 million and import expenditures were $415.5 million. After bauxite, alumina, and aluminum, rice, timber, bananas, and shrimp were important exports. The latter are exported mainly to the USA (25%), the Netherlands and the EU countries. Suriname imports engineering products, oil, steel and rolled products, agricultural products and consumer goods. 50% of imports come from the US and the rest from Brazil, the EU and the Caribbean.
Story.
The indigenous people of Suriname lived in separate tribes in small settlements, earning their living by hunting and primitive agriculture, the basis of which was the cultivation of root crops, mainly cassava. The coastal tribes spoke the languages of the Arawak family, the Indians of the interior - the Caribbean languages. The coast of Suriname was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498 during the third expedition to the New World. However, for a long time the Spaniards and the Portuguese did not try to colonize the area. Only at the end of the 16th century. the British, French and Dutch began to take an interest in Guiana, as rumors spread that the fabulously rich country of El Dorado was located there. The Europeans never found gold, but they founded trading posts along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
The first permanent settlement was founded on the Suriname River by Dutch merchants in 1551. At the end of the 16th century. Suriname was captured by the Spaniards, in 1630 by the British, who then, under a peace treaty in Breda (1667), ceded Suriname to Holland in exchange for New Amsterdam (now New York). Among the first colonists of Suriname were many Dutch and Italian Jews who fled from the persecution of the Inquisition. In 1685, on the Suriname River, 55 km southeast of modern Paramaribo, they founded the colony of Yodensavanne (lit. Jewish Savannah). Until 1794, Suriname was under the control of the Dutch West India Company and since then remained a colony of the Netherlands (with the exception of two short periods in 1799-1802 and 1804-1814, when it was captured by the British).
The basis of the economy of the colony was the plantation economy. Slaves were brought in from Africa to work on the plantations. Along with the main crop, sugar cane, coffee and chocolate trees, indigo, cotton, and cereals were grown on plantations. The plantation economy expanded until 1785. By this time, there were 590 plantations in Suriname; of these, 452 cultivated sugar cane and other cash crops, and the rest cultivated crops for domestic consumption. At the very end of the 18th century. the colony began to decline. By 1860 there were only 87 sugarcane plantations left, and by 1940 only four.
In Suriname, as in other sugar-producing colonies that used the labor of slaves, there was a sharp stratification of society. At the highest rung of the social hierarchy was a very small layer of Europeans, mostly colonial officials, large merchants and a few planters. The European population was dominated by the Dutch, but there were also Germans, French and British. Below this elite was a layer of free Creoles, which included descendants from marriages of Europeans with slaves and slaves who received or bought freedom. The lowest and most numerous category of society were slaves. Among them, they distinguished between slaves brought from Africa legally until 1804 and illegally until 1820, and slaves born in Suriname.
The system of slavery in Suriname was characterized by extreme cruelty. Slaves had no rights. Colonial laws were intended to give slave owners unlimited power over slaves and completely isolate the latter from the free population. Therefore, the slaves, at every opportunity, fled from their masters into the interior of the country and created settlements in the forests (“forest negros”).
From the beginning of the 19th century in Europe, the campaign for the abolition of slavery was expanding. After the British (1833) and then the French (1848) abolished slavery in their colonies, the Dutch decided to follow suit. However, it was feared that the freed slaves would not want to work on the plantations. Therefore, following the abolition of slavery, it was decided that the slaves should work on the former plantations for 10 years for a minimum wage. The decree on the abolition of slavery was adopted in 1863. After that, the freed slaves were faced with the need to feed themselves and their families and poured into Paramaribo, where labor was better paid and it was possible to get an education. There they replenished the middle Creole layer of society, becoming servants, workers, merchants, and their descendants - even elementary school teachers and petty officials. At the end of the 19th century some Creoles moved into the interior of the country, where they engaged in gold mining and rubber collection. In the 1920s, Creoles found work in bauxite mines, and also emigrated to Curaçao (where they worked at oil refineries), the Netherlands and the USA.
In search of labor for the plantations, the colonial authorities began to recruit residents of Asian countries under the contract. In the period 1853-1873, 2.5 thousand Chinese were brought to Suriname, in 1873-1922 - 34 thousand Indians, in 1891-1939 - 33 thousand Indonesians. The descendants of these migrants now make up the majority of Suriname's population. During the Second World War, there were many American soldiers in Suriname, along with them, capital appeared to serve the US military bases.
For a long time, Suriname was governed by a governor appointed by the metropolis. Under him, there were two councils elected by local electors and approved by the Dutch authorities. In 1866, these councils were replaced by parliament, but the governor retained the right to veto any decisions of this body. Initially, a strict property and educational qualification was in effect to participate in the elections, but as it was softened, planters began to penetrate the parliament, and after 1900 the majority in it was already made up of representatives of the upper and middle strata of Creole society. However, the electorate did not exceed 2% of the population until 1949, when universal suffrage was introduced.
In 1954 Suriname received autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. At the same time, the metropolis still appointed the governor and controlled the defense and foreign policy of the country, and the Surinamese elected the parliament and government.
After 1949, the Creoles gained great influence in parties organized along ethnic lines. They formed a coalition with the Indonesians, who also supported the independence of Suriname, won the 1973 elections and formed a government led by Prime Minister Henk Arron, leader of the National Party of Suriname (NPS). Negotiations with the Netherlands were successful, and on November 25, 1975, the independence of Suriname was proclaimed. After that ok. 40,000 Asian Surinamese emigrated to the Netherlands. The former metropolis pledged to provide financial assistance to the young state in the amount of $ 1.5 billion within 15 years. Before independence, two more political parties formed in Suriname: the Indian Progressive Reform Party and the Indonesian National Unity and Solidarity Party.
Arron, re-elected in 1977, was accused of corruption and removed from his post in 1980 in a military coup by a group of army officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Desi Bouterse. The National Military Council came to power, which dissolved parliament by February 1982, repealed the constitution, and dismissed the last representative of the civilian government, President Henk Chin Ah Sen. The latter, together with thousands of Surinamese, emigrated to the Netherlands, where, in order to fight the dictatorial regime, he formed the Movement for the Liberation of Suriname. The economic crisis was added to the political crisis, caused by the fall in world prices for bauxite. Economic losses were only partly compensated by money transfers from emigrants to their homeland.
After the military tortured and killed 15 known citizens of the country, the Netherlands stopped financial assistance to Suriname. Under domestic and international pressure, the National Military Council in 1985 authorized the formation of a new parliament and lifted the ban on political parties. After that, Arron entered the National War Council, renamed the Supreme Council.
In July 1986, with the support of the Movement for the Liberation of Suriname, several hundred lightly armed "forest blacks" revolted in the south and east of the country. Led by Ronnie Brunswijk, Bouterse's former personal bodyguard, they formed the Surinamese Liberation Army, designed to restore constitutional order to the country. Within a few months, they destabilized the work of bauxite mines and oil refineries. Bouterse accused the government of the Netherlands and Surinamese emigrants, among others, of aiding the rebels, which led to the rupture of diplomatic relations between Suriname and the Netherlands in early 1987. The Surinamese army tried to suppress the uprising with cruel measures, often violating the rights of its own citizens and foreigners. This policy caused widespread discontent, and the population demanded reforms. In a referendum in September 1987, 93% of voters voted in favor of the new constitution.
In the November 1987 parliamentary elections, representatives of the Bouterse party received only three seats out of 51, while the multi-ethnic Front for Democracy and Development received 40 seats. In January 1988, Ramsevak Shankar, a businessman of Indian origin, became president, and Arron became vice president and prime minister. Bouterse retained some power as head of the five-member Military Council. Shankar's policy was aimed at improving relations with the Netherlands and the United States. The Netherlands again began to provide assistance to Suriname, promising to pay 721 million dollars over 7-8 years. Bauxite mining resumed.
However, in December 1990 the military removed the civilian government and dissolved the National Assembly. Under pressure from the world community, the military was forced in May 1991 to hold elections with the participation of international observers. In these elections, a coalition called the New Front for Democracy, which included three traditional ethnic parties, the Front for Democracy and Development and the Labor Party of Suriname, gained 30 votes in parliament. In September, Ronald R. Venetian, candidate of the National Party of Suriname, took over as president; the leader of the Indian Progressive Reform Party, Yul R. Ayodiya, became Vice President and Prime Minister. Colonel Bauterse remained commander-in-chief of the army.
In August 1992, Venetian reached peace agreements with the Surinamese Liberation Army rebels. Bouterse was replaced as commander-in-chief by Arti Gorre. In the first half of the 1990s, Suriname, along with some other Latin American countries, embarked on the path of liberal economic reforms. Venetian managed to curb inflation and improve relations with the Netherlands, which increased financial assistance to Suriname and investment in the economy. However, trade union opposition and the collapse of the New Front coalition led to Venetian's defeat in the May 1996 elections. Indonesian parties and with a number of small parties approved their candidate Weidenbosch as president. At the same time, the coalition turned out to be rather weak, and in 1997-1998 the new government was unable to put its legislative program into effect. Behind Weidenbosch stood Bouterse. Under him, Suriname became the main transshipment base for drugs on the way from Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia to the Netherlands and the United States. The police were led by Bouterse's closest associate, Colonel Etienne Burenveen, who was convicted in Miami in the 1980s and served five years in prison for dealing cocaine. Another Bouterse employee, Henk Goodschalk, became head of the Central Bank of Suriname. In August 1998, at the request of the Dutch government, Interpol issued an arrest warrant for Bouterse on charges of drug dealing and financial fraud. President Jules Weidenbosch commits many serious economic and political mistakes and leads Suriname to a state of complete instability. Allegations of corruption against this president are not unfounded.
Suriname in the 21st century
In the elections held on May 25, 2000, the New Front won. In August 2000, Ronald Venetian was elected President of Suriname for the second time. He was to restore economic stability and increase foreign investment in the country. Jules Ajodia became prime minister.
Ronald Venetian inherited from his predecessor a devalued currency, high inflation, a collapsing healthcare system, and a bloated bureaucracy. Urgent and emergency measures were taken to curb inflation and stabilize the exchange rate. The government of Ronald Venetian managed to cut government spending and stabilize the banana industry with the help of international loans.
In August 2005, Ronald Venetian was re-elected President of Suriname. Although neither Venetian nor his new political rival, Rabindra Parmessar, received enough votes in Parliament to become president, the candidacy of Ronald Venetian was left to the discretion of the regional bodies. 560 deputies out of 879 voted for him.
Suriname is considered one of the most exotic countries in South America. Before traveling to Suriname, tourists are "armed" with a Dutch vocabulary and a passion for travel. In this country they really speak Dutch, and there are a lot of opportunities for interesting adventures. More than 80% of the territory is occupied by tropical forests with mountains, nature reserves and national parks. In the north, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, there are many kilometers of snow-white beaches.
Geography
Suriname is located in the northern part of South America. Suriname borders Guyana to the west, French Guiana to the east, and Brazil to the south. In the north, the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Total area - 163,821 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 1,707 km.
The country is geographically divided into two regions - coastal lowlands in the north and rainforests with savannah in the south. Most of the population lives in the north.
The two main mountain ranges are the Bakhuys Mountains and the Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains. The highest local peak is Mount Juliana, whose height reaches 1,230 meters.
It should be noted that more than 12% of the territory of Suriname belongs to national parks and reserves.
In the northeast of the country is the Brokopondo reservoir, into which the Suriname River flows. This is the largest reservoir of water in Suriname.
Capital of Suriname
Paramaribo is the capital of Suriname. More than 250 thousand people now live in this city. Paramaribo was founded by the French in 1640.
Official language
The official language is Dutch.
Religion
The predominant religion is Christianity (Catholicism and various concessions of Protestantism). About 19% of the population are Muslims.
State structure of Suriname
According to the Constitution of 1987, Suriname is a parliamentary republic, headed by a President elected by the local parliament for 5 years. The President is the head of government and he appoints the Cabinet of Ministers.
The unicameral local parliament is called the National Assembly (it consists of 51 deputies elected by the people for 5 years).
The main political parties are the Megacombinatie coalition and the National Front.
Administratively, the country is divided into 10 regions, each of which is headed by a commissioner appointed by the President.
Climate and weather
The climate in Suriname is hot tropical. There are two dry seasons - from August to November and from February to April. In addition, there are two wet seasons - from April to August and from November to February. The rainiest month is May. In the dry season, the average air temperature is +27.4C, and in the rainy season - +23C.
The country is outside the hurricane zone, but there are very frequent showers, which leads to floods.
Seas and oceans of Suriname
In the north, the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the sea coast is 386 km. The average sea temperature near the coast is +26C.
Rivers and lakes
The largest reservoir of water in Suriname is the Brokopondo Reservoir, into which the Suriname River flows. This reservoir is located in the northeast of the country.
culture
The culture of Suriname was formed under the influence of the Dutch, as well as immigrants from Indonesia and India. The result is a multicultural society. Surinamese architecture, for example, has a Dutch colonial character, although the influence of South American traditions is sometimes noticeable. The influence of South American architectural traditions is most noticeable in the Cathedral of St. Paul and Peter, built of wood in the 19th century.
The multicultural nature of Surinamese society is reflected in the variety of local celebrations and festivals. This country celebrates Christian, Indian, Hindu and Muslim holidays.
Every year before Easter, Paramaribo hosts the Avond-Virdaagse parade, which lasts for four days. Another grandiose Surinamese holiday is celebrated from December to January - Surifesta. These are Christmas and New Year festivities, which take place almost a whole month throughout the country.
In rural areas, parents still choose partners for their children. Almost always, marriage partners are selected from the same ethnic group. Even after marriage, a woman in Suriname cannot claim equal social status with her husband.
Cuisine of Suriname
The cuisine of Suriname is quite noticeably different from the culinary traditions found in other South American countries. This country was colonized by the Dutch. Indonesians, Indians and Chinese were brought there to work on the plantations. These workers made their favorite dishes from local ingredients. Gradually, the culinary traditions of all these population groups were mixed, resulting in the modern cuisine of Suriname.
The main feature of the local cuisine is the wide use of fish, seafood, vegetables and fruits. Other staple foods are cassava, rice, potatoes, lentils, corn, bananas. Pepper, garlic, onion, ginger and cumin are often used in cooking.
Tourists are recommended to try "Pom" (chicken with vegetables), "Pastei" (Creole chicken pie), "Dhal" (lentil stew), chicken curry, vegetables with peanut sauce, Bakbana (fried plantain with peanut sauce), Goedangan (vegetable salad with coconut sauce), Bojo cake (made with coconut and cassava), Phulauri (fried lentils).
Traditional soft drinks - fruit and vegetable juices, tea, coffee.
Traditional alcoholic drinks - ginger beer, rum.
Attractions Suriname
There are not very many historical and cultural attractions in Suriname. But there are many architectural sights and national parks, which, by the way, occupy more than 12% of the country's territory.
In the coastal region of Para, there is the Jodensavanne plantation, which was founded by Portuguese Jews in the 17th century. In general, there are a lot of medieval plantations in the Para area, where thousands of tourists come every year.
Of great interest to tourists are the Surinamese national parks and reserves - the Central Reserve of Suriname (16 thousand sq. Km.), Brownsberg National Park, as well as the Raleigh Falls Voltsberg and Galibi reserves (4 thousand hectares of tropical forest).
Cities and resorts
The largest Surinamese city is Paramaribo (more than 250 thousand people now live in it). The rest of the local cities are not very large by Western standards. Thus, the population of Lelydorp is more than 20 thousand people, and about 16 thousand people live in Nieuw Nickerie.
Since in the north Suriname is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, it is clear that this country should have beautiful snow-white beaches. Almost all of the 386-kilometer coastline is occupied by beaches. Unfortunately, the tourist infrastructure is not developed there.
Tourists in Suriname are offered exciting sightseeing adventure tours, during which they visit the villages of local residents, national parks, nature reserves, and try traditional local dishes.
Souvenirs/Shopping
Tourists in Suriname buy handicrafts, local clothes, shoes, hats, handmade jewelry, local alcoholic drinks.
Office Hours
Banks:
Mon-Fri: 07:30-14:00
The shops:
Mon-Fri: 07:30-16:30
Sat: 07:30-13:00
Visa
Ukrainians need to apply for a visa to visit Suriname.
Currency
The Suriname dollar is the official currency in Suriname. Its international designation is SRD. One Surinamese dollar = 100 cents. Credit cards are not widely used. Only some major hotels and travel agencies accept credit cards.
Customs restrictions
Import and export of local currency is limited to 150 Surinamese dollars per person. Foreign currency in the amount of more than $10,000 must be declared.
It is forbidden to import drugs, pornography, vegetables and fruits. Pets are allowed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK. To import firearms and ammunition, you must obtain permission from the Surinamese police.
Permission is required for the export of archeological, antiquities and art objects. Items made from sea turtle shells cannot be exported without special permission.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
Embassy of Suriname in the Netherlands:
Alexander Gogelweg 2, 2517 JH The Hague
T: 31 70 365 0844
The interests of Ukraine in Suriname are represented by the Embassy of Ukraine in Brazil:
SHIS, QI-06, Conjunto-04
Casa-02, LAGO SUL, CEP 71615-040 Brasilia-DF
BRASIL
T: (8 10 5561) 3365 1457
Email mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You must have JavaScript enabled to view.
Emergency Phones
115 - All emergencies
Time
Behind Kyiv for 6 hours. Those. if, for example, in Kyiv 13:00, then in Paramaribo - 07:00.
Tips
Hotels and restaurants usually add a 10-15% service charge to the bill.
Medicine
Doctors recommend tourists to get vaccinated against yellow fever, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, malaria, tetanus, rabies and typhoid before traveling to Suriname. The risk of malaria is high throughout the year in the southern regions, while the risk is almost non-existent in the coastal regions and in the city of Paramaribo.
Safety
Recently, the number of petty crimes has increased in Suriname, mainly thefts. Therefore, tourists are advised to observe reasonable security measures there.
Not everyone has heard of the Republic of Suriname and not everyone knows where this country is located. If you look at the map, you can see that Suriname occupies the second largest territory in South America and is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the north of the country. In the south it borders with, in the east with French Guiana and Guyana in the west.
In contact with
Suriname on the world map occupies a small area of this continent and looks like a small but quite noticeable speck on the map. Dutch is spoken in the country, as it was a Dutch colony until 1975. The capital of Suriname is Paramaribo, which was founded back in 1640 by French colonists. More than 250 thousand people live in it.
Historical facts of the country
Previously, the area where Suriname is located was inhabited by the Indian tribes of Cariba and Arawak. They established their own culture and hierarchy and lived throughout the Lesser Antilles. The arrival of Europeans forced them to retreat inland, and from 1616 Dutch colonies arose in their habitat. In the middle of the 17th century, Dutch Guiana appeared on the world map, which was engaged in logging and growing sugar cane.
After World War II the city of Suriname increasingly showed independence and on December 15, 1954, he received the autonomy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Gaining independence, the country held out for five years, then there was an uprising. As a result of the military regime, the construction of a socialist state began, but it did not last long. The Democratic Coalition came to power and still runs the country to this day. At present, this small country is still tied to foreign partners and cannot boast of almost any historical events.
Official capital
Paramaribo is the noisy and hectic capital of the country and the main city of Suriname. In addition, it is also the largest city with the main port. The capital of the Republic of Suriname has absorbed European civilization and South American flavor. Impressive brick buildings with columns side by side with wooden houses and green squares. The narrow streets of the city with tall palm trees end in mangroves near the coast.
The historic center is marked on the map as World Heritage and Wikipedia has a lot to say about it. Creole, Dutch, Asian, British styles and cultures are mixed in the city. The historical center itself remained intact and retained its individuality. Churches of all religions stand side by side, Dutch beer is sold next to an English pub, and traditional local rum, of course, can be bought everywhere.
As Wikipedia writes about Suriname, the city has a beautiful central park with tall palm trees and beautifully laid paths. There are many birds that shake the capital with their noise. To the east rises a restored seventeenth-century fort. Now it is a museum, and once it was used not only for protection, but also for torture. Once a month, a festival of dances of all the peoples inhabiting Suriname is held near the fort.
Political structure and form of government
The form of government in this small country is a parliamentary republic headed by the President, who has the right to appoint a cabinet of ministers. Elections take place every five years to elect a new parliament. The country is divided into ten administrative regions governed by commissioners appointed by the head of the republic.
The main population professes Christianity, and 17 percent adhere to the Muslim faith. There are also Buddhists and Jews.
Languages of Suriname
The country speaks many languages:
Eastern Maroon Creole can also be heard, Caribbean Hindustani, Saramaccan, Ndyuka Trio Pijdin and Caribbean Javanese. Since there are many expats in the country, you can hear English, Northern Lebanese Arabic, Korean, Portuguese and watch how they communicate in Dutch Sign Language. Dutch is recognized as the official main language.
Relief features and climate
The country was unofficially divided to the southern and northern parts. The population prefers to settle closer to the ocean, on the coastal lowlands of the northern coast. There is more empty territory that can be cultivated and planted on it with crops. To the south is the savannah and the jungle grows, in which, in accordance with the tropical climate, it often rains.
Relief
The relief has its own characteristics:
More than 80 percent of the territory occupied by national reserves, tropical parks and forested mountains. White sandy beaches stretch along the ocean. Two mountain ranges pass through the country, with the highest mountain Juliana. It rises to 1230 meters. In Suriname there is a river of the same name. It supplies the entire population with a fresh river, which is not so big, only half a million people. Its length is 480 kilometers, and on the world map you can see how it flows in the middle of the country, conditionally dividing it into two parts, and then flows into the Brokopondo reservoir.
Suriname is located in the Guiana lowland, 25 and 80 kilometers wide from east to west. Its surface is swampy, with isolated forests. In some places, the soil is drained so that it can be used in agriculture. In the savannah, the soil is infertile, and almost nothing is grown on it. Several small rivers flow through the Guiana lowland:
- Korantein;
- Kitty;
- Suriname;
- Gran Rio;
- Maroni;
- Commewijne;
- Nickerrie;
- Marowijne.
The fifth river from this list shares the country with Guiana. Rivers Kottika and Commewijne are of great importance for freight transport, as river rapids interfere with the delivery of goods. Thanks to these rivers, agricultural crops are delivered to the capital of Paramaribo, and the southern part is not isolated from the northern one.
Climate
The climate where Suriname is located is tropical, humid. The temperature in the dry period is 23 degrees, and in the rainy season - 24 above zero. The dry period lasts from mid-April to the end of August, the wet months are September and October, November, December, January and February the sun shines again. May has the most rainfall and floods.
Animal and plant world
Animal world
One of the attractions of Suriname is a frog. This is not just a tropical frog, but an endemic Surinamese. On Wikipedia, it is recorded as the Surinamese pipa. Its length is from 12 to 20 cm, a strongly flattened body and a head that has a triangular shape. The eyes are tiny and do not have eyelids. Frog color gray, with dark spots, the skin is wrinkled and rough.
You can also meet many other tropical animals. Monkeys, small deer, anteaters and jaguars live in the dense jungle. Cougars hide in the mountains. By the river you can meet tapirs, armadillos and crocodiles. There are also many birds and snakes.
Vegetable world
Ancient crystalline rocks form the basis of the Guiana Plateau. Its surface is a tropical rainforest with swampy lowlands. Savannahs can be seen on the map from the south side of the slopes. In the forests there are different types of oaks, pines, poplars and even birches. There are willows, white acacias. Pine trees (Italian pines), holm and cork oaks, cacti, agaves, olive, pomegranate, almond, citrus and mastic trees grow on the coast, and, of course, palm trees and mangroves.
Flora and fauna of the country - it is a conservation area of central Suriname. Its historical sights are included in the UNESCO world list and are protected.
Suriname, the official name of the Republic of Suriname (Dutch. Republiek Suriname), formerly known as the Netherlands Guiana (Nederlands Guyana) - the smallest state in South America, located in the northeastern part of the continent; it borders on the west with the Republic of Guyana (Eng. Guyana Republic), in the east - with (French Guyane Française), in the south - with Brazil (port. Republica Federativa do Brasil), and in the north it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The total length of the state border is 1.71 thousand km. (including: from - 597 km, from French Guiana - 510 km, from - 600 km), and the length of the sea coast is 386 km. The country, with a total area of about 164 thousand km², is home to more than 560 thousand people.
The largest city, the main port and the capital of the country is (Dutch. Paramaribo).
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The main air gate of the country is Paramaribo Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, located 45 km south of Paramaribo.
By the way, what is interesting is that such famous players of the Dutch national team as Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Ryan Babel and many others come from Suriname or have a direct Surinamese origin!
general information
State. country structure: According to the form of government - a parliamentary Republic. The head of government and state is the President, elected by the Parliament for a 5-year term, and the number of terms is not limited by law. Parliament - unicameral National Assembly (51 deputies) is elected by popular vote also for a term of 5 years. The state is divided into 10 administrative districts, each headed by a Commissioner appointed by the President.
At the next presidential election on July 19, 2010, he was elected head of the country (Dutch. Desire Delano Bouterse; 11/13/1945) - a military man, politician, former dictator (in the 80s of the twentieth century). On August 12, 2010, Bouterse officially assumed the leadership position.
State language: The official state language is Dutch (Dutch). The most common language of interethnic communication is Sranan Tongo (Sranan Tongo - "Surinamese language"), the so-called. "Bastard English", an adapted language based on English. Numerous languages and dialects are spoken in the country: Arawak, Akurio, Warao, Waiwai, Wayana, Eastern Maroon, Creole, Guyanese Creole, Caribbean Hindustani, Caribbean Javanese, Carib, Mawayana, Quinti, Ndyuka Trio, Sikiana, Saramaccan, Sranan, Hakka. Dutch Sign, English, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean and dialects of Arabic are also common in the country.
Religion: About 30% of the inhabitants profess the Catholic faith, up to 28% of the population are adherents of Hinduism, Protestants (mostly Moravans) make up more than 17%, Muslims - about 20%, 5% are adherents of other religious faiths.
Currency: The official currency was the gulden (Suriname Gulden; International designation: SRG). From January 1, 2004, it was replaced by the Surinamese dollar = 100 cents, International designation: SRD (S$). In circulation there are banknotes (value: 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 $) and coins (value: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 Cent). Although the Surinamese dollar is the only legal tender in the country, there are often guilders in circulation (the current denomination of which is calculated based on the proportion: 1000 guilders = 1 Surinamese $). Due to strong inflation, small denominations have almost no circulation, the most common foreign currency is US dollars. Credit cards are not common in the country, they are accepted only by some reputable travel agencies and large hotels.
Population
The population of the country is more than 560 thousand people. Urban dwellers make up almost 69%, with almost 90% of the country's population (about 500 thousand inhabitants) living in the capital Paramaribo and on the adjacent coast.
More than 91% of the territory is covered by jungle, but only 5% of the population (mostly indigenous Indians and Negro tribes - descendants of runaway slaves) live in tropical forests in the interior of the country.
The ethno-racial composition of the country's population is as follows: Indians make up 37% (descendants of immigrants from northern India), Creoles (descendants of European conquerors of South America and slaves brought from Africa) - 31%, Javanese (the main Indonesian population of the island of Java) - 15 %, Maroons ("forest blacks") - 10%, native Indians - 2%, immigrants from China - 2%, immigrants from European countries (whites) - 1% and about 2% are from neighboring countries.
The average life expectancy of local residents: men - 69 years, women - 74 years. The average literacy rate of the population is almost 90%.
Local residents are unusually good-natured, open and friendly, have an excellent sense of humor. The country is characterized by large families-clans and a pronounced community, they are distinguished by respect for the church, for their national roots and for family values. Representatives of various ethnic groups carefully preserve their historical and cultural roots, while respecting their neighbors, no matter what people they belong to, no matter what faith they profess.
Excursion into history
The history of the country is typical for this region. For thousands of years, the Indian tribes of the Caribs who inhabited these lands formed a powerful tribal association covering all the Lesser Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Eustatius, Saba), with an established culture and their own social hierarchy. The European invasion forced them to retreat deep into the swampy coastal plains. The coastal part in 1499 was discovered by one of the first expeditions to the New World of the Spanish conquistadors (Spanish Alonso de Ojeda) and (Spanish Vicente Yáñez Pinzón). For the first time, the coast was mapped in 1500, after the expedition of another Spanish navigator Diego Lepe (Spanish Diego de Lepe), having received the name from the river that crosses the territory of the country.
The colonization of the country began to be carried out by the British only in the first half of the 17th century, but in 1667 England exchanged Suriname for New Amsterdam (now New York), giving it to the Netherlands, in whose possession the country was for almost 3 centuries. In 1667, a new Dutch colony (Dutch Guiana) appeared on the map, the economy of which was based on growing sugar and logging.
By the end of the XVII century. the country became an important supplier of sugar to Europe. For the cultivation of sugar cane in the state, a system of plantations was created, on which Negro slaves, who were imported from Africa, worked.
Due to the establishment of its own production of beet sugar in Europe, as well as due to a shortage of labor (due to the abolition of slavery in 1863), in the second half of the 19th century. Suriname experienced a sharp economic downturn.
The solution of the problem was outlined only by the end of the 19th century. with immigration to the country of more than 60 thousand immigrants from Asia (Indians, Indonesians, Chinese), when the plantation system was replaced by a privately owned peasant economy. In the 20s of the twentieth century. the active development of industry began, which was based on mines for the extraction of gold and bauxite, as well as at various enterprises for the processing of agricultural products.
In 1922, the country officially ceased to be a colony, becoming an annexed territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. After World War I in the east of the country, the development of alumina by the American company ALCOA began, since then the country has become practically "tied" to the production of aluminum. It is a well-known fact that during World War II more than 75% of American aluminum was produced from local raw materials. After this war, Suriname, becoming more and more independent from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on December 15, 1954, acquired the status of its autonomous region, and on November 25, 1975, acquired independence, becoming an independent Republic. In November 1977, the first general elections were held in the country, which were won by the national party.
However, after only 3 years, the civilian government was overthrown by the military regime, which announced the construction of a socialist republic. The military coup on February 25, 1980 was organized and led by Desi Bouterse, a 34-year-old senior sergeant, an army basketball coach. Bouterse ruled the country like a dictator, he, having given himself the rank of lieutenant colonel (the highest military rank in the Surinamese army), became the head of the State Military Council he created. He abolished the former Constitution, dissolved the Parliament, introduced a state of emergency in the country, creating a special Tribunal, which considered the cases of the figures of the former government. Bouterse announced "a program for the moral recovery of the nation." When several members of the previous government were executed, the Netherlands in response to these actions stopped providing financial assistance to Suriname. Meanwhile, the dictator began to actively nationalize the country's industry, as a result of which significant economic difficulties arose here - production dropped sharply, protests and strikes of the population began.
In 1986, a partisan struggle broke out against the dictatorial regime. In 1987, under the pressure of international pressure, Bauterse was forced to agree to the restoration of the Constitution and the holding of democratic elections, but on the condition that he remain the head of the state's Armed Forces. In 1990, Bouterse, who overthrew the current government for the second time, lasted less than a year, he agreed to hold snap elections, ceasing to be head of state. Already in 1991, power again passed to the multi-party democratic coalition, which governs the state to this day. Since that time, coalition governments have been at the head of the state, today the economic situation in the country has improved as a result of diversification measures and the development of oil fields.
At the next elections in 2010, the former dictator returned to power again.
Suriname to this day remains a quiet country, firmly attached to foreign partners, with practically no outstanding historical monuments of history. But among tourists, the country is famous as a unique cultural enclave with a phenomenal ethnic diversity, huge tracts of virgin forests, numerous rivers, excellent sea beaches and excellent conditions for outdoor activities.
Geographical position and relief
The territory of the country, located in the northeast of South America and washed in the north by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, can be conditionally divided into 2 parts:
- north, the area off the Atlantic coast, where most of the population lives and the land is cultivated;
- the south, whose territories are covered with savanna and tropical rainforests, and there is almost no population.
To the south of the coastal strip stretch foothills covered with savannah, the soils of which mainly consist of clay and sand, that is, they are of little use for agriculture.
typical south
The inner southern part of the country is occupied by the Guiana Plateau, the two main chains of which are the Bakhuys Mountains and the Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains. The highest peak of the mountain system is Mount Juliana (Dutch. Julianatop; 1230 m). This area, covered with impenetrable selva, due to the lack of population here, does not play a big role in the economy of the state, but it is distinguished by a rich flora and fauna.
It should be noted that more than 12% of the territory of the state belong to the National parks and nature reserves.
Climate
Due to its location near the equator, the climate is hot and humid. During the year, the air temperature changes slightly (about 2 °C from season to season). The average annual temperature in Paramaribo is +27°C, even nighttime temperatures rarely fall below +24°C. In the coastal zone, regular northeast trade winds bring pleasant coolness.
The region has 2 rainy seasons (up to 200 rainy days a year on average): from late November to February and from early May to August.
The rainy season is often accompanied by heavy floods, and during the rainy season, powerful downpours with gusty winds, called “shibibushi” (which means “forest broom”), are not uncommon, because such rains often cut off almost all the foliage from the trees.
The average water temperature of the Atlantic Ocean (with which the country is washed in the north) near the coast is + 26 ° С.
The most favorable for visiting the country is the dry period, which lasts from early February to May, then from mid-August to December.
Rivers
The territory of the country is crossed by many rivers, among which 4 are the largest, flowing in a northerly direction: Korantein (Dutch. Corantijn), part of the border with Guyana passes along it; Koppename (Dutch Coppename); Gran Rio (Dutch. Gran Rio); Suriname (Dutch. Surinam); Marowijne (Dutch. Marovijne) - border with Fr. Guiana. For agriculture and cargo transportation, the rivers are also important: Kottika (Dutch. Cottica) and Commewijne (Dutch. Commewijne), which flow into the river. Surinam near its mouth; Saramacca (Dutch. Saramacca), which flows into the river. Koppenam, also near the mouth; The Nickerie (Dutch Nickerie) is a tributary of the Corantein. Local rivers are full of water, but they are distinguished by an abundance of rapids, as a result of which navigation along them for medium and large river vessels is possible only at the mouths, on the territory of the coastal lowland, therefore, until recently, the southern regions were considered practically isolated from the outside world. But small boats link the hard-to-reach hinterland with the coast, moving upstream some rivers for distances of up to 300 km.
Suriname River
In the north-eastern part of the country is the Brokopondo reservoir (Dutch. Brokopondostuwmeer; one of the largest reservoirs in the world), into which the Suriname, Maroni and Nikerie rivers flow. The dam, located near the city of Brokopondo in the district of the same name, was built in 1964 to provide electricity to aluminum plants.
Flora and fauna
The Guiana Plateau is largely covered by tropical rainforest (more than 90% of the country). The lowland flora is represented by tall-grass savannahs, marshy areas are overgrown with mangrove trees. On the general plain background, massifs of mountain ranges stand out. Savannahs appear on the southern slopes of the Surinamese highlands. The territory of the country is distinguished by a diverse rich flora, which is represented by almost 3.5 thousand plant species. The mountainous regions and hills are covered with evergreen forests with such valuable species of trees as virola, nectandra, carapa, sarrania, etc. growing in them. Pine, oak and birch groves, poplars, white acacias, and willows are found here. Shrubs and evergreen trees grow on the coast, including alpine pines and pines, palms, cypresses, mastic trees, holm and cork oaks, agaves and all kinds of cacti, as well as plantations of cultivated plants: olives, almonds, pomegranates, citrus fruits.
The animal world is rich in biodiversity. In total, there are more than 100 species of mammals, over 600 species of birds and up to 300 species of fish in the country. Various types of monkeys live here, there are jaguars, small deer, cougars, tapirs, crocodiles, anteaters, armadillos, as well as a huge variety of birds and all kinds of snakes. Among representatives of amphibians, Pipa Surinamese (lat. Pipa pipa) is of particular interest. This frog, endemic to the region, is unusual in its reproduction. During a certain period, the male and the female perform a mating dance underwater, during which the female throws several eggs (from 40 to 140), and the male simultaneously releases a portion of sperm. The female dives down, the eggs fall directly on her back, sticking to her, the male, facilitating the process, with the help of his hind legs presses the eggs to the female's back, evenly distributing them over the entire surface of the skin. After 11.5 - 12 weeks, formed small "peeps" appear.
Among aquatic animals, piranhas, electric rays, arapaima and many others are widespread. Some species are dangerous to humans.
During an expedition to Suriname undertaken in 2005 by Conservation International (CI), a non-profit international organization for the protection of the environment, 24 species of animals previously unknown to science were discovered. New species include a frog named "Atelopus spp" with glowing purple spots, and other amphibians, fish and reptiles.
A country's economy
Industry is rather poorly developed, local residents are mainly employed in agriculture or the service sector.
The bowels of the country are rich in minerals. The economy is based on the extraction of bauxite, on the export of oil, aluminum and gold, however, Suriname remains the poorest country in South America. To date, the state program for oil production on the sea shelf is being implemented. In order to develop the extraction of gold and bauxite, the state is assisted by the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary and the European Development Fund (European Development Fund).
The country has a fairly developed forestry and food industries, in particular, the processing of fish and seafood.
The agricultural sector employs 8% of the working population, the contribution of agriculture to the state's GDP is 10%. Rice (which uses about 50% of arable land), bananas, coconuts, and peanuts are grown in the country. Increasing attention is paid to the breeding of cattle and poultry.
The country exports aluminium, crude oil, gold, timber, seafood, rice and bananas to the following countries: Canada, Belgium, USA, UAE, Norway, Netherlands.
S. imports mainly industrial and food products, fuel.
The main suppliers are the USA, the Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, China and Japan.
Largest cities
Paramaribo
Transport
Most of the state's roads are located along the coast, and the hinterland, overgrown with dense forests, is practically inaccessible to land transport. The only connection between the inner districts and the densely populated coast is by river (although rapids are often difficult to pass) and air transport.
In cities, in addition to ordinary buses and taxis, water transport is very common, which is especially typical for the capital. Water taxis are more convenient and faster than classic cars: in 10-15 minutes you can easily get from one area of the city to another.
Culture, holidays
As a result of the fact that the local culture was formed under the influence of the Dutch, immigrants from India, China, Indonesia, a kind of multicultural society was formed here. For example, the architecture of the country has a Dutch colonial style with noticeable features of South American traditions.
The multicultural nature of the population of the state is most clearly reflected in the variety of local festivals and holidays: the country celebrates both Christian and Hindu, Indian and Muslim holidays.
Every year before Easter, Paramaribo hosts the picturesque Avond-Virdaagse Easter parade, which lasts 4 days. Another grand national Surinamese holiday, which is celebrated for almost a whole month, from December to January, is the most noisy, incendiary Festival of the country - Surifesta, a typical Latin American Festival. Christmas and New Year festivities are noisy and fun all over the country.
January 1, like all over the world, New Year is celebrated here, February 27 - Carnival "Curacao Carnival", July 1 - the whole country celebrates the Day of the Abolition of Slavery ("Keti Koti", literally means "fetters thrown off"), November 25 - Day independence.
Curious facts
Curious facts
Suriname is located on the mainland of South America and the occupied territory of Suriname is 163,270. The population of Suriname is 524,000 people. The capital of Suriname is located in the city of Paramaribo. The form of government of Suriname is the Republic. Dutch is spoken in Suriname. Who borders Suriname: Guyana, Brazil.
The Republic of Suriname is a country in the northeast of South America with an area of 163 thousand square kilometers. The president is the supreme ruler.
The name of the country comes from the name of the Surinen people - in honor of the local settlers. This is a unique cultural corner, striking with its ethnic diversity. Many cultural elements of the New and Old Worlds are represented here. The population is distinguished by good nature and friendliness, it is somewhat melancholy. Community spirit is welcomed here, which is probably why there is a huge number of clan families, great respect for one's roots, for the church, while religious fanaticism is excluded. There is a diversity of confessions in the country, despite this, representatives of one or another confession respect their neighbors who adhere to another faith. Despite the fact that Dutch is considered the official language, the majority of the population speaks the so-called “taki-taki” language, which is a distorted English language.
The monetary unit of Suriname is the Surinamese dollar. The country's economy is developing due to the extraction of bauxite and the growth of the oil industry, and agriculture is also given considerable attention, but it is still underdeveloped. The capital of Paramaribo is practically the only major city, as well as the main seaport.
The country has a unique nature, there are many national parks and reserves. The most famous of them are the Central Reserve of Suriname, the Raleigh Falls Voltsberg Reserve, the Brownsberg National Park, the Galibi Reserve. There are unique species of animals and plants here, but you need to choose a good guide and stock up on protective equipment, as many species of animals can be dangerous to health.
The country is located close to the equator, which is a condition for a rather hot climate with rainy seasons.
Throughout its long history, Suriname has been a colony of various countries. Therefore, the main holiday of the country is Independence Day, which is celebrated on November 25, it is timed to coincide with the liberation of the country from colonial oppression in 1975. In addition to this holiday, many other holidays are celebrated, for example, Christmas, New Year, Easter, Labor Day, Slavery Abolition Day and so on, and there are also very diverse bright festivals that take place throughout the year. Many holidays and festivals have a religious basis.
The main ingredient of Surinamese dishes is rice, and the drink is coffee. Tourists should be aware that in cafes and restaurants in Suriname it is customary to leave a tip of 10% of the order amount.
A polite attitude towards each other on the street, greeting even with strangers is considered one of the manifestations of local traditions.
It cannot be said that the crime rate in the country is low. While in rural areas it can be quite safe, in cities, especially at night, the level of street crime remains high.
The vast area of beaches on the Atlantic coast is not suitable for use, as they do not have a developed infrastructure.
The country is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest independent state on the South American continent.
