DESCRIPTION
Guyana, previously known as
British Guyana, is located on the northern coast of South America. Guyana
is surrounded by Suriname, Brazil, Venezuela and the Atlantic Ocean.
The capital city is Georgetown. The official language of Guyana is English
and the currency is the Guyanese dollar. The population is approximately
860,000. Guyana’s economy depends almost entirely on mining, fishing,
timber and agriculture with rice and demerara sugar being the main crops
grown for export. Guyana's tropical climate,
unique geology, and relatively pristine ecosystems support extensive
areas of species-rich rainforests. More than 80% of Guyana’s land
area is covered by thick tropical forests. These forests are home to
more than a thousand species of trees and many animals. Approximately
eight thousand species of plants thrive in Guyana, half of which are
found nowhere else. Guyana is one of the countries with the highest biodiversity in
the world. It has 1168 vertebrate species and 1600 bird species, which
make Guyana a popular eco-tourism destination for visitors from all
over the world.