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Guyana Overview and History
Home » Guyana » Guyana Overview and History » Guyana Overview and HistoryPresent day Guyana is much different from the “Guiana” of the past. It might not be the most recognizable country found in South America, but it has a fascinating history rich with revolts, varying controlling countries, and political unrest. As we explore the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, let us take a look at the country’s facts and statistics and an overview of its history, political issues, and economy.
Guyana is named after an Amerindian word meaning “land of many waters”. The name suites the country well as it is full of creeks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and coastline. Its three main rivers are the Essequibo, Demerara, and the Berbice. Kaieteur Falls, quite possibly Guyana’s most notable attraction, is a 741 foot waterfall, five times the height of Niagara Falls.
• Location: The country itself is located in the northern section of the Amazon Basin in South America, bordered by Venezuela in the west, Brazil in the south, Suriname in the east, and the Atlantic Ocean in the north. Although it is apart of South America it is culturally aligned with the Caribbean and is often considered apart of the West Indies.
• People: Guyana is commonly referred to as the “land of six peoples” due to its vast multicultural population. East Indian makes up the largest ethnic group followed by African, Chinese, Portuguese, European, and Amerindian. Most of the population resides on the Atlantic coastline with the exception of the Amerindian, who live in the savannahs and highland regions. Guyana’s estimated population is around 800,000.
• Language: Like the other Caribbean countries, Guyana’s official language is English. Creolese, which is an English based creole, is what you will hear most people speaking in, although there are several other languages spoken around Guyana such as Hindu, Urdu, and Arabic (used mostly for religious purposes), Amerindian dialects, and Portuguese.
• Religion: Guyana’s religious sects are in direct correlation to the people who make up the population. The Christian faith makes up almost 60% of the religious, followed by Hindu at 30%, and Muslim at 10%. These are estimates of mainstream religion and do not account for those of the indigenous tribes.
• Climate: Guyana is located just north of the Equator making it apart of a tropical climate. Guyana’s climate includes and dry and rainy season. There are two rainy seasons, one from April to mid-August and the other from mid-November to January. Northeast trade winds help cool off the coastline keeping their climate pleasant year round at about 70-90 degrees. The interior regions get substantially warmer temperatures ranging anywhere from 60-100 degrees. Unlike its Caribbean counterparts, Guyana is not typically affected by hurricanes or tropical storms.
• Government: Guyana is a democratic republic within the British Commonwealth and gained its independence in 1966. The capital is Georgetown which is also Guyana’s largest city. The national motto is “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.
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