54 Facts About Guyana

Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a sovereign state on South America's northern mainland.

It is also the only Commonwealth state on South American mainland.

Guyana (214,970 square kilometres) is the third-smallest country on South America's mainland, after Uruguay (176,215 square kilometres) and Suriname (163,821 square kilometres).

Guyana gained independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966. The country's population is made up of people of various ethnicities, including Chinese, Portuguese, East Indians, Europeans, Amerindians, and Africans, who coexist peacefully.

Guyana is also the only country in South America where English is the official language.

The English Oxford dictionary defines Guyana as "the land of many waters."

The Dutch were the first to set up colonies in Guyana, followed by the British.

Guyana is at odds with both Venezuela and Suriname over territory.

Guyana is divided into three geographical regions. The first is a low-lying coastal plain, the second a savannah zone, and the third a mountainous region.

The Kaieteur Falls, the world's largest single drop waterfall, is also found in Guyana. With an average water flow rate of 663 cubic metres per second, the falls has a total length of 251 metres and is one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world.

The Essequibo River is 1,010 kilometres (628 miles) long, the Courantyne River is 724 kilometres (450 miles), the Berbice River is 595 kilometres (370 miles), and the Demerara River is 346 kilometres (215 miles).

Guyana is nearly three-quarters forested. And 60% of this area is classified as primary forest. Some parts of Guyana's rainforests are nearly inaccessible to humans. Furthermore, the country has a low rate of deforestation.

Mount Roraima (elevation: 2,810 m; first ascent: 1884) is Guyana's highest point. It is also surrounded by Venezuela and Brazil. The highest point of the mountain, however, is Maverick Rock, which is entirely within Venezuela. On this flat-topped mountain, it rains almost every day.

Guyana has a lot of forest cover, but its ancient soil is infertile, and the majority of its people live on the coast.

Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice are the three counties that make up Guyana.

Farming and fishing are the primary sources of income for those who live on the coast.

Guyana and the West Indies also co-hosted the Cricket World Cup in 2007. During the World Cup matches at Providence Stadium, Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga made history by becoming the first bowler in international cricket history to take four wickets in four consecutive balls. Between March 28 and April 9, 2007, the stadium hosted six World Cup matches.

According to the WHO, Guyana ranks second in the world in terms of suicides per capita, trailing only Sri Lanka.

Guyana experienced the largest mass suicide in modern history in 1978, when over 900 people committed suicide. The victims were followers of Jim Jones, the religious cult leader.

In Guyana, there has been an increase in diseases associated with water and food consumption since 1985. Despite the fact that 90% of people in rural and urban areas have access to safe drinking water.

Georgetown is Guyana's capital and main port.

The country's two main commercial centres are New Amsterdam and Georgetown.

Wooden buildings are a part of the country's heritage, but they are fading into obscurity as concrete buildings become more common.

The majority of the food, including vegetables, fruits, cooking oils, sugar, fish, meat, rum, and rice, is produced locally.

The main commercial activity in the country is the export of sugar and rum. Agriculture is the country's primary activity and a major contributor to its economy.

Arranged marriages are common among the country's Hindu and Muslim populations. Because children are generally abandoned by their fathers, women are responsible for their upbringing.

In recent years, more women than men have attended university in Guyana. Women are now playing an important role in a variety of jobs, including vendors, nurses, teachers, civil servants, market vendors, farmers, and clerks.

The proper upbringing and education of children is critical to the country's culture. People take their children to churches, mosques, and temples in order to instill moral values in them.

Guyana's University was established in 1963. It is also where many eminent scholars and professionals have studied. It is Guyana's only university, and higher education is prohibitively expensive for the local population.

The US dollar is widely accepted in Guyana.

Guyana has two rainy seasons: May to mid-August and November to January. Flash floods are a constant threat during the rainy season.

In various parts of the country, Spanish, Portuguese, Creole, and Amerindian languages are spoken.

The region's first inhabitants were Amerindians.

Guyana's constitution was drafted on October 6, 1980.

Several countries' citizens do not need a visa to enter Guyana. Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Italy, Jamaica, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, France, and many other countries are among them.

In Guyana, there are no railways, neither international nor domestic. Furthermore, there are no road connections between Guyana and Venezuela.

Minibuses are the most affordable mode of transportation in Guyana.

Guyana's average temperature ranges between 75 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mashramani is an annual festival held in Guyana to commemorate the Republic's birth. Mashramani translates to "the celebration after hard work". The festival is usually held on February 23rd, except in 2016, when it was held on May 26th, Guyana's 50th Independence Anniversary.

The height of Kaieteur Falls in Guyana is five times that of Niagara Falls. Orinduik Falls, Kumerau Falls, and 52 Drop Falls are among the other waterfalls in the country (series of 52 rapids on Cuyuni River).

Mount Ayanganna is Guyana's second highest peak, after Mount Roraima.

Guyana is well-known for its beautiful handcrafted goods, which include paintings, wallets, sun hats, costume jewellery, and a variety of other items. The country also has some outstanding gold jewellery.

The cost of living in Guyana is relatively high because the majority of the items are imported from other countries.

Indian subcontinent dishes have been localised. Creole cuisine is also prevalent in the region.

People enjoy eating Chinese dishes such as chow mein and lo mein, so Chinese restaurants are common.

Georgetown, the country's capital city, has a wide range of food options. Menu options in smaller towns are frequently limited to creole dishes.

Dark rum is a popular beverage in the country. The ageing process of rum in Guyana is said to be greatly accelerated due to the high humidity and consistent temperature. Thus, in other countries, an 8-year-old rum has the same maturity as a 16-year-old rum.

Banks beer is the country's national beer.

Mauby is a well-known drink that is widely available throughout the country. It's made out of tree bark. Sugarcane juice and coconut water are two other popular drinks.

Guyana receives 91 mm of rain on average.

Male homosexuality is illegal in Guyana. If the charges are proven, the defendant could face life in prison. Cross-dressing is also illegal in the country.

The country's tap water is unsafe to drink.

Malaria is prevalent throughout much of Guyana. Guyana is endemic for yellow fever. To avoid health problems, visitors to this area should get properly vaccinated ahead of time.

Georgetown Public Hospital, located in the country's capital city, is the largest hospital in the country. However, the hospital's facilities are still basic and in need of improvement.