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Guyana
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Guyana is an
Amerindian word meaning Land of Many Waters is often times described as the
Caribbean gate to South America due to its unique positioning with an
exceptional natural beauty and fascinating touches of a sometimes turbulent
past. Perched on the north-east corner of the South American continent, Guyana
stretches 450 miles from its long Atlantic coastline into dense equatorial
forest and the broad savannah of the Rupununi. The picturesque capital and
primary port is Georgetown, a city of comfortable, modern hotels, fine colonial
buildings, and broad, tree-lined boulevards. The striking wooden architecture is
reminiscent of Guyana's centuries as a Dutch, and then a British colony.
Georgetown offers an evocative introduction to the land of Guyana. Don't miss
the imposing St. George's Cathedral, reputed to be the tallest wooden building
in the world.
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Life in Guyana is
dominated by mighty rivers, including the Demerara, the Berbice and the
Essequibo, which provide essential highways into the rain forests and jungles of
the interior. Mankind has made little impact here, and today Guyana remains one
of the world's most exciting destinations for adventuresome travel and
exploration. Setting out for the interior by boat, light aircraft or 4x4, you
encounter the extraordinary natural heritage of Guyana spreading out like a
tropical carpet. Jaguar still roam the rain forest, and the unearthly cries of
troupes of howler monkeys echo through the trees. The Giant River Otter, the
Black Caiman, and the Arapaima (the largest freshwater fish in the world) swim
in the rivers of the Rupununi. Flashes of scarlet, yellow and blue burst through
the forest's intense green as macaws fly like arrows across a clearing in the
canopy. |
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More than 700
indigenous species of birds adorn Guyana's forests. The tumbling rivers and
dense rainforests of Guyana are filled with extraordinary natural sights.
Kaieteur Falls, where the 400-foot wide Potaro River plunges 741 feet downward
from the Pakaraima Plateau, is one of the world's great waterfalls. The
magnificence of Kaieteur stands beyond any comparison in its majesty and sheer
size. You can also visit the striking beauty of the Orinduik Falls, the Marshall
Falls, the Kaieteur Gorge and remote Mount Roraima - the inspiration for Conan
Doyle's Lost World. The climate in Guyana is hot but pleasant for most of the
year, particularly in the coastal belt, which is cooled by the sea breeze. The
average temperature ranges between 75°F and 87°F. The rainy season occurs in May
and June, and then again in December and January, with an average annual
rainfall of 91 inches. |
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The
original inhabitants of the territory were Amerindians. However, to meet the
labor needs of the plantation economy, slaves were brought in large numbers
during the 18th and early 19th centuries from West Africa to work on the cotton
and sugar plantations. When slavery was abolished in 1834 the former slaves
refused to work for their former masters, even for wages. They left the
plantations and established their own village communities. Immigrants were
therefore brought in to work, first from Europe (Germany, Malta and Portugal),
then China, and eventually in large numbers from India. Today the country's
population reflects its immigrant history with Africans, East Indians, Chinese,
Portuguese, Europeans, and Amerindians living side by side. Guyana is South
America's only English speaking country. This allows tourists from many
countries to have an exciting South American adventure without the inconvenience
of having to learn another language. |
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