Guiana or French Guiana (French Guyane or Guyane française) is an overseas département (département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France, located on the Caribbean coast of South America.
History
Main article: History of French Guiana
First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements (see Devil's Island) until 1951.
Politics
Main article: Politics of French Guiana
As an integral part of France, French Guiana is part of the European Union, the largest part in area outside Europe and the only part outside Europe that is not an island (other than the small Spanish towns of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa).
Geography
Main article: Geography of French Guiana
French Guiana is located on the Caribbean coast of South America. To the west is Suriname, and Brazil is to the south and east.
See also: Communes of the Guyane département
Economy
Main Article: Economy of French Guiana
The European Space Agency launches its satellites from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of French Guiana
Miscellaneous
References
- The CIA World Factbook 2000
- French Guiana map http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/travel/dg/maps/7a/750x750_frenchguiana_m.gif
Last updated: 02-07-2005 16:30:46
Last updated: 04-25-2005 03:06:01