Republic of Guyana (capital - Georgetown): recreation, attractions

The Cooperative Republic of Guyana (the capital - Georgetown) is the only country on the continent of South America that is part of the Commonwealth of Nations. But this does not exhaust the uniqueness of this small state. Guyana is also the only country in Latin America where the official language is English. And this is not surprising. Indeed, until May 26, 1966 Guyana was a colony of Great Britain. In fact, until the twentieth century on the north-eastern coast of Latin America, there were three countries with a similar name "Guiana". And they were all colonies. British Guiana now called Guyana, the Dutch colony has now turned into Suriname. Well, French became the overseas department of the European Republic. In this article, we will focus only on one of the former colonies - British Guinea.

Where is Guyana

This independent parliamentary republic is located on the north-eastern tip of the South American continent. The country borders with Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname. In the north it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The area of the state is two hundred fifteen thousand square kilometers, and the population (according to the last census in 2002) is seven hundred and fifty thousand people. The lion's share of the country's territory is occupied by moist equatorial forests and swamps with mangroves. Five degrees of north latitude and fifty-nine west longitude are the main coordinates of the state of Guyana. The capital and the largest city of the country - Georgetown - are located in the northeast, on the Atlantic coast. It is an important economic and commercial center, as well as a port. The currency of the country is the Guyanese dollar. Since 2010, the Russian Federation and this Latin American country have signed an agreement on joint visa-free entry of their citizens. Tourists have the right to stay in Guyana for ninety days without the right to work.

Nature and climate

Ninety percent of the country's territory is covered by tropical forests. The coast of the Atlantic Ocean is often swamped. Sometimes this lowland extends a hundred kilometers wide. But the farther south, the terrain becomes more mountainous. The highest point of the country - the peak of Roraima (2772 meters above sea level) - is located in the west of the state. At the fifth degree of northern latitude there is always a hot summer. In this subequatorial humid climate, there are only two rainy seasons. The first, longer, lasts from April to August. The second one falls on the country with torrential rains from November to January. But the temperature of air and water wet seasons are not affected. All the year round the thermometer's column seemed to hang at + 26 ... + 28 ^o C. The richest virgin nature determines the tourist attractiveness of the republic. Guyana (the capital of the state and other cities, both on the coast and inland) is very hospitable and gladly welcomes travelers from all over the world.

History of Guyana

On a vast territory, which was later occupied by three colonies-Guiana, lived Arawaks - Indian tribes. These lands were discovered by the Spaniards at the end of the fifteenth century. But the swampy terrain and the unhealthy climate did not attract the conquistadors. But they were interested in their northern neighbors. France, Great Britain and Holland fought for the possession of these lands throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. What the gun did not do was trade. Dutch merchants founded the first settlements in the estuaries of the rivers Brbis, Demerara and Essekibo. Soon they not only traded with Arawak, but also tried to cultivate sugar cane, coffee, cotton and tobacco. Since the Indians were ready to die rather than be slaves, slaves from Africa began to be brought to the plantation. In 1814, these lands were transferred to the Vienna Treaty of England. In 1831 there was a colony called British Guiana. The abolition of slavery in 1834 caused the outflow of yesterday's African slaves into the cities. The plantation began to invite hired laborers - mostly from India and China. This led to such a heterogeneous ethnic composition of the population. The independent Republic of Guyana appeared on the world map in 1966.

Sights of the country

Tropical nature, exotic vegetation and fauna - these are the main treasures of Guyana. In the country, rapids and lakes are not considered rapids. The largest waterfall of Guyana - Kayetur - five times higher than the famous Niagara. This is the most popular tourist route of horse tours. In the equatorial jungle there are more than a hundred species of exotic mammals. This and various monkeys, and tapirs, and battleships, and sloths. Rivers are teeming with piranhas and caimans. In the crowns of branches, parrots, hummingbirds, fluttering toucans flutter. In addition to the jungle, there is also a savanna area - Rupununi, which is protected by the state. Often you can see the killer whales in the Atlantic. Guyana is an ideal country for the so-called "extreme" holiday. Here you can make rafting on the "white boiling water" of the Kamony, Mazaruni and Essekibo rivers, go hiking through the Timberhead Reserve or conquer the Kunuku mountain range. The plateau near the highest peak of the country (Roraima) is considered the prototype of the one that Arthur Conan Doyle described in his famous novel The Lost World.

Beach holidays

The seaboard of the republic continues to cover the boggy mangroves. Let's say frankly: Guyana is a country that is little adapted to beach rest. But still there are excellent sites. All of them are located to the north of the mouth of the Demerara River. These are the beaches of Sahakalli Beach, Shell Beach, Almond Beach, Erupoint, Timberhead, Baganara and Namber-63. Guyana is more popular with rest by the rivers. On the banks of Demerara, such resorts as Marshall Falls, Joe Vier Park and Barakara have grown. Many places of rest at the waterfalls Orinduik and Kayetur, in the Ivorkam reserve.

Georgetown (Guyana)

The capital of the republic is located in the Demerara-Mahaika region. Every third citizen of Guyana resides in this city. The population of Georgetown is one hundred and ninety-two thousand people. And together with the suburbs - and all two hundred and fifty thousand. Georgetown was founded by the Dutch in 1781. They called the settlement Stabruk, which means "pond with standing water". The Dutch set up the town in its charming style. Until now, wooden houses and small canals have been preserved here.

In 1812, Stabrook conquered the British and gave the city a new name - Georgetown. The new colonizers expanded the streets and paved the avenues. The governor's residence was also located here. The status of the main city remained behind Georgetown, when a new state appeared on the political map of the world - the Republic of Guyana. The capital now has the unofficial name "City-garden in the Caribbean". There are a lot of shady parks in which it's good to wait for the day's heat. From historical monuments one can name the world's largest cathedral made of wood, and a church built of reinforced concrete slabs.