By boat: .
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| region4name=[[Surinamese Rainforest]]
| region4name=[[Surinamese Rainforest]]
| region4color=#71b37b
| region4color=#71b37b
−
| region4description=The inland of Suriname
is
part of the vast Amazon region and
is
almost entirely covered with tropical rainforest. In the southwest is the Sipaliwini savanna area. In the
center
and south are mountain ranges, but the highest peak, the Julianatop, is only
1280 meters
high. Most Amerindians and Maroons live in this region, many of them in a primitive way. The Brokopondo Reservoir is one of the largest reservoirs in the world.
+
| region4description=The inland
areas
of Suriname
are
part of the vast Amazon region and almost entirely covered with tropical rainforest. In the southwest is the Sipaliwini savanna area. In the
centre
and south are mountain ranges, but the highest peak, the Julianatop, is only
1280m
high. Most Amerindians and Maroons live in this region, many of them in a primitive way. The Brokopondo Reservoir is one of the largest reservoirs in the world.
}}
}}
==Cities==
==Cities==
+
*[[Paramaribo]] - The capital and only city of the country
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Albia|Albina]] - Hub to [[French Guiana]]
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Albia|Albina]] - Hub to [[French Guiana]]
*[[Surinamese Rainforest#Apoera|Apoera]] - Indian village in West Suriname
*[[Surinamese Rainforest#Apoera|Apoera]] - Indian village in West Suriname
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*[[West Coast (Suriname)#Groningen|Groningen]] - Relaxed place on the Saramacca River
*[[West Coast (Suriname)#Groningen|Groningen]] - Relaxed place on the Saramacca River
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Lelydorp|Lelydorp]] - The second largest city of Suriname
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Lelydorp|Lelydorp]] - The second largest city of Suriname
−
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Moengo|Moengo]] - The former bauxite mining
center
+
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Moengo|Moengo]] - The former bauxite mining
centre
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Nieuw Amsterdam|Nieuw Amsterdam]] - Best known for it's fort
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Nieuw Amsterdam|Nieuw Amsterdam]] - Best known for it's fort
*[[West Coast (Suriname)#Nieuw Nickerie|Nieuw Nickerie]] - Most western city protected by a sea wall
*[[West Coast (Suriname)#Nieuw Nickerie|Nieuw Nickerie]] - Most western city protected by a sea wall
−
*[[Paramaribo]] - The capital and only city of the country
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Santigron|Santigron]] - A Maroon village along the Saramacca river
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Santigron|Santigron]] - A Maroon village along the Saramacca river
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*[[West Coast (Suriname)#Bigi Pan Nature Reserve|Bigi Pan Nature Reserve]] - A large area of open water, mudflats and mangrove forest
*[[West Coast (Suriname)#Bigi Pan Nature Reserve|Bigi Pan Nature Reserve]] - A large area of open water, mudflats and mangrove forest
*[[Surinamese Rainforest#Brownsberg Nature Park|Brownsberg Nature Park]] - A nature park close to Paramaribo
*[[Surinamese Rainforest#Brownsberg Nature Park|Brownsberg Nature Park]] - A nature park close to Paramaribo
−
*[[Surinamese Rainforest#Central Suriname Nature Reserve|Central Suriname Nature Reserve]] - one of the most remote, ancient, and pristine
wilderness
on Earth
+
*[[Surinamese Rainforest#Central Suriname Nature Reserve|Central Suriname Nature Reserve]] - one of the most remote, ancient, and pristine
wildernesses
on Earth
*[[Surinamese Rainforest#Colakreek|Colakreek]] - A Cola colored swimming place in the midst of the savannah
*[[Surinamese Rainforest#Colakreek|Colakreek]] - A Cola colored swimming place in the midst of the savannah
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Galibi nature reserve|Galibi nature reserve]] - Beaches where sea turtles lay their eggs
*[[East Coast (Suriname)#Galibi nature reserve|Galibi nature reserve]] - Beaches where sea turtles lay their eggs
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===History===
===History===
[[File:Zicht op en vanaf bastion met gevel gebouw op fort aan de rivierzijde - Paramaribo - 20377867 - RCE.jpg|thumb|Fort Zeelandia was once the main stronghold of the Dutch colonial forces in the region.]]
[[File:Zicht op en vanaf bastion met gevel gebouw op fort aan de rivierzijde - Paramaribo - 20377867 - RCE.jpg|thumb|Fort Zeelandia was once the main stronghold of the Dutch colonial forces in the region.]]
−
Dutch from the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands colonized Suriname in the 17th century. The colony was mainly used for sugar, coffee and cocoa plantations where many African slaves were worked to death.
In 1863 slavery came to an end and contract workers were recruited from British India (until 1916) and [[Java]] (until 1936). Many stayed after their contract had ended. Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975 and to retain their Dutch nationality many Surinamese left for the Netherlands. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic characterized by a high level of government corruption and the summary executions of political opponents. 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 again, but a democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.
+
Dutch from the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands colonized Suriname in the 17th century
but periods of British administration did not finally cease until 1816
. The colony was mainly used for sugar, coffee and cocoa plantations where many African slaves were worked to death.
+
+
In 1863 slavery came to an end and contract workers were recruited from British India (until 1916) and [[Java]] (until 1936). Many stayed after their contract had ended.
+
+
Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975 and to retain their Dutch nationality many Surinamese left for the Netherlands. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic characterized by a high level of government corruption and the summary executions of political opponents. 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 again, but a democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.
===Demographics===
===Demographics===
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| description = check [http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Paramaribo-weather/Paramaribo/SR.aspx '''Paramaribo's 7 day forecast''']
| description = check [http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Paramaribo-weather/Paramaribo/SR.aspx '''Paramaribo's 7 day forecast''']
}}
}}
−
Suriname has a tropical rainy climate, hot and humid. It has two rainy seasons per year. The long rainy season runs from late April to mid-August. The short rainy season runs from mid-December to mid-February. Usually it does not rain all day but there are heavy tropical showers mainly in the afternoon. The temperature is about 30
̊C
but in the dry period from mid-August to mid-December it can rise to 35-40
̊C
. Humidity is about 80% year-round and can exacerbate temperature extremes. It feels clammy and sticky.
+
Suriname has a tropical rainy climate, hot and humid. It has two rainy seasons per year. The long rainy season runs from late April to mid-August. The short rainy season runs from mid-December to mid-February. Usually it does not rain all day but there are heavy tropical showers mainly in the afternoon. The temperature is about 30
°C
but in the dry period from mid-August to mid-December it can rise to 35-40
°C
. Humidity is about 80% year-round and can exacerbate temperature extremes. It feels clammy and sticky.
===Terrain===
===Terrain===
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For around SRD30 or €10 you can take the bus from [[Albina]] (bordering [[French Guiana]]) to Paramaribo.
For around SRD30 or €10 you can take the bus from [[Albina]] (bordering [[French Guiana]]) to Paramaribo.
−
From [[Georgetown (Guyana)|Georgetown]], [[Guyana]], take mini bus #63a to Molson Creek in eastern Guyana just across the river from Suriname. The trip takes at least
3 hr
. From there, you will go through customs on the Guyanese side. Then take the
11AM
daily ferry across the river to South Drain. The actual ferry ride takes about 30 minutes.
+
From [[Georgetown (Guyana)|Georgetown]], [[Guyana]], take mini bus #63a to Molson Creek in eastern Guyana just across the river from Suriname. The trip takes at least
3h
. From there, you will go through customs on the Guyanese side. Then take the
11:00
daily ferry across the river to South Drain. The actual ferry ride takes about 30 minutes.
===By boat===
===By boat===
In the east there are small boats and small ferry between Albina (Suriname) and St. Laurent ([[French Guiana]]). The price is usually around SRD10 or €5 per passenger.
In the east there are small boats and small ferry between Albina (Suriname) and St. Laurent ([[French Guiana]]). The price is usually around SRD10 or €5 per passenger.
−
In the west there's a regular river ferry between [[Guyana]] and Suriname.
The ferry from Guyana is USD10 and runs only once a day at 11:00. The ferry departs the Suriname side for Guyana also at 11:00 (Suriname is one hour ahead of Guyana). As of December 2010 there's an additional ferry
at
13/14
. Check for details.
+
In the west there's a regular river ferry between [[Guyana]] and Suriname. The ferry from Guyana is USD10 and runs only once a day at 11:00. The ferry departs the Suriname side for Guyana also at 11:00 (Suriname is one hour ahead of Guyana). As of December 2010 there's an additional ferry
two hours
later
. Check for details.
==Get around==
==Get around==
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==Talk==
==Talk==
'''Languages'''
'''Languages'''
−
Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes referred to as ''Taki-Taki'' in French Guiana, is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population. It
is
used as a lingua franca between different ethnic groups), Sarnami (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese, Chinese (Mandarin, Hakka and Cantonese) and Portuguese
+
Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes referred to as ''Taki-Taki'' in French Guiana, is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population. It
's
English based (since slaves were forbidden from speaking Dutch) and
used as a lingua franca between
all the
different ethnic groups
and, since 1986 has an official spelling
), Sarnami (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese, Chinese (Mandarin, Hakka and Cantonese) and Portuguese
[[Sranan phrasebook|'''Sranang Tongo''']] was suppressed by the Dutch for many years but it is now the most widely used language in Suriname. It was previously called ''nengre'' or ''negerengels'' (Dutch, "Negro English"). Suriname has a large immigrant population, many of whom do not speak Dutch or English, but everyone is expected to know Sranang Tongo. There is very little written material in Srannang Tongo but, if you know English, it will not be hard to learn.
[[Sranan phrasebook|'''Sranang Tongo''']] was suppressed by the Dutch for many years but it is now the most widely used language in Suriname. It was previously called ''nengre'' or ''negerengels'' (Dutch, "Negro English"). Suriname has a large immigrant population, many of whom do not speak Dutch or English, but everyone is expected to know Sranang Tongo. There is very little written material in Srannang Tongo but, if you know English, it will not be hard to learn.