Suriname Guide

January 31, 2021 findjobdescriptions

Suriname is a state in the northeast of South America. Common borders with Guyana – in the west, French Guiana – in the east, Brazil – in the south.

The capital is Paramaribo. The official language is Dutch. Currency – Surinamese dollar.

The climate is equatorial hot and humid. Temperature +27*С.

Most of the country’s territory is located in the northeast of the Guiana Plateau (up to 1280 m). In the north – lowlands. The climate of Suriname is subequatorial, humid and hot. The rivers are Korantein, Maroni, Suriname, Koppename, Gran Rio, Marowijne.

On the territory of Suriname, the coastal Guiana lowland, the savannah belt and the tropical forest belt of the Guiana Plateau are distinguished. The Guiana lowland, from 25 km wide in the east to 80 km in the west, is composed of alluvial and marine sands and clays. The surface is flat, marshy, in some places crossed by coastal ridges and dissected by rivers.

Interesting facts

The territory of Suriname was discovered by the expedition of Alonso de Ojeda and Vicente Pinson in 1499.

The name of the country received from the river flowing through its territory.

The indigenous inhabitants of Suriname lived in tribes in small settlements. At that time, the main part of the food was root vegetables, in particular cassava. The coastal tribes spoke the languages of the Arawak family, the inhabitants of the interior – the Caribbean. In 1498, Christopher Columbus reached the shores of luscious Surinam during his third expedition to the New World. After a long break, at the end of the 16th century, Europeans became interested in Guiana because of rumors about the fabulous country of Eldorado. Subsequently, despite the vain search for gold, trading posts were opened along the Atlantic coast.

The first permanent settlement was founded on the Suriname River in 1551 by Dutch merchants. The country passed to Spain at the end of the 16th century, in 1630 it was captured by the British, who after some time, under a peace treaty in Breda (1667), transferred Holland to Suriname in exchange for New Amsterdam (New York). The first colonists included many Dutch and Italian Jews fleeing persecution by the Inquisition.

Country data

Location: South America

Time zone: CET – 4 (during summer time: CET – 5)

Total area: 163,820 km²

Land area: 156,000 km²

Water area: 7,820 km²

Length of the state border: 1,703 km

including:
Brazil: 593 km
French Guiana: 510 km
Guyana: 600 km

Coastline: 386 km

Capital: Paramaribo

Districts: 10
Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Electric current: 130, 220 V / 60 Hz

Telephone code: 00 597 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m

Population

Population: approx. 570,000 (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.1% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 3.5

Life expectancy: 69 (male), 74 (female)

Official language: Dutch, English

Religions:

27% Hindus
25% Protestants
22% Roman Catholic
20% Muslim
6% other

Climate

Located in the tropical climatic zone, Suriname has an average daily temperature of 28-30 ° C.

The air humidity is 75 to 85% all year round.

Rainy seasons are mainly in the months from November to February and May to August.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Suriname dollar (SRD)

Division: 1 dollar = 100 cents

ATMs: There are only a few devices in the larger cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by a few larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: The national currency may be imported and exported up to an amount of 100 SRD. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export is limited to the amount of the declared import.

As a foreign currency, it is recommended to bring US dollars in smaller denominations.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g tobacco
2 liters of alcoholic beverages
small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

In some regions of the Eastern Caribbean, there are occasional robberies on ships near the coast. Do not take unknown guests on board and pay attention to your own safety, especially at night.