Suriname, formerly the colony of Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana, is a country in Northern South America. It has a North Atlantic Ocean coastline in the north and is surrounded by French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south and Guyana to the west. It is the smallest independent country on South American continent. The relatively small population lives mostly along the coast.

History

Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic. It continued to rule through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1989, the military overthrew the civilian government, but a democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.

Climate

Tropical; moderated by trade winds; yearly rain average 2200 mm. There are 2 rainy seasons (February to March, August to November) and 2 dry seasons (December to January, April to August).

Terrain

Mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps. Mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development.

Elevation extremes : highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m