Short facts about the geography of French Guiana

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname

Geographic coordinates:

4 00 N, 53 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total:  91,000 sq km land:  89,150 sq km water:  1,850 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total:  1,183 km border countries:  Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

Coastline:

378 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:  Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish

Land use:

arable land:  0% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  0% forests and woodland:  90% other:  10% (1996 est.)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

mostly an unsettled wilderness

Source: World Factbook