Geography
Suriname is situated in South America, and is being bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Guyana, French-Guiana and Brazil. The exact location is between 2º and 6º N.W. en 54º and 58º W.L.. The area of the republic is 163.270 Km2 and is being populated by approximately 430.000 citizens.
Along with the previously mentioned countries (the northwest of Brazil included) and a part of Venezuela, Suriname creates the Guyana-Shield.
This shield is a pre-historical stone and is being bordered by two big rivers in South America, namely the Orinoco in Venezuela and the Amazon in Brazil.

History
The name Suriname is most likely derived from Surinen, an ancient Indigenous tribe who have lived here. Suriname was also called Dutch-Guyana. In 2002 Paramaribo has been registered at World Heritage Foundation of the UNESCO. This means that Historical Monumental buildings are not allowed to be expanded or demolished. They can only be renovated, but the original architecture must not be changed. There are buildings which have kept their original architecture since 1882. A very good example is the cathedral which is the largest and oldest building in the Caribbean.

Climate
Suriname has a tropical rainforest climate, with temperatures above 18ºC the whole year through. The humidity degree is high and is approximately 80%. The coolest time of the day is 06.00 hrs in the morning (23°C) and the hottest period is between 12:00 - 14:00 hrs (32°C).
The nature of the seasons is being decided by the rain fall.
Most of the rain falls from April until July, but it can eventually also rain heavily in January.
The coast and the inland have the same climate generally, however the frequency of rain fall is higher on the inland.
The whole year the average temperature is 27ºC. The average maximum temperature amounts 30.5ºC, the average minimum temperature 22.8ºC.
September and October are generally the driest months. January is the “coldest” month with 26.2ºC and September and October the hottest months with 32.2ºC.

In fact Suriname has four seasons:
The small rainy season, the first half of December until second half of January.
The small dry season, the second half of January until the second half of March.
The big rainy season , the second half of march until the first half August.
The big dry season, the second half of august until the first half of December.

Nature
Suriname has a huge variety of flora and fauna. As always a great part of Suriname is covered by jungle which is part of the largest jungle on earth, the Amazon rainforest, which mostly exist on Brazilian territory. Therefore the Surinamese jungle has always been beloved by biologists from all over the world.

Surinamese population groups
De Surinamese population is very diverse and consists of Indian -, Creole -, Javanese -, Indigenous, Chinese, Maroon and European people.
The maroons live along various Surinamese rivers such as the Tapanahony-, Cottica-, Southern Commewijne-, Marowijne-, Saramacca- and Southern Surinameriver.
The indigenous tribes live in the coastal line and also along the Tapanahony- and the Coppenameriver.
The indigenous people are divided in the upland - and down land tribes.
The first group of indigenous people is being separated in smaller tribes (e.g. the Trios and the Wajanas) and reside in the jungle, whereas the second group (e.g. the Arowaks and the Caraiben) live in the coastal area.
In some districts a certain population group dominates. For example in districts Coronie and Para the creole are in majority. In Nickerie the Indian and in Commewijne the Javanese. In the other remaining districts, especially Paramaribo, every group is represented in great amounts.
Each of the groups have their own culture and own values. They attempted to unify the different population groups, but have only succeeded in creating official holidays.
Besides the national memorial days such as the Independence Day and the Emancipation Day, there are also Christian, Hindu and Islamic holidays.

Languages in Suriname
In Suriname not less than 20 languages are spoken. The most important language is the Sranang or Sranang Tongo (Surinamese), an originally Creole dialect, which is fluently spoken by every Surinamese.
The Sranang Tongo existed halfway the 17th century, when the first slaves from Africa entered Suriname. This language is influenced by the English-, Portugese- and African language, as well as some Dutch words. Most Surinamese also speak Dutch, the official language of Suriname.
Other Creole languages spoken in Suriname are the Guyane, the Aucan (in the east and north-east of Suriname), the Saramaccan (along the Saramaccan - and Suriname river) and furthermore the dialects Matawari an Kwinti (along the Coppename river). In Suriname they also know the Carib, an indigenous language and the Caribbean Hindi.

Transport and communication
The total road network has a total length of 8.889 km, which generally is on northern side. Suriname consists of 1.500 km navigable rivers and canals.
There is also an international airport (Johan Adolf Pengel airport, formerly known as Zanderij) and 35 airstrips. Public transportation on land is being conducted by the governmental bus service and the private line busses, a.k.a. Soulbusses. There are permanent boat transports over the Suriname-, the Marowijne-, the Saramacca- and the Corantijnriver.
Suriname has a left driving traffic, dated from when Suriname was an Inglish colony.

Currency
The Surinamese currency is the Surinamese Dollar (SRD).