Guyana is a South American country bordering Brazil, Suriname, and Venezuela with a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It was settled by indigenous groups before European conquest. The Dutch and British colonized the region, and slavery was abolished in parts of British Guiana in the 19th century. Guyana gained independence in 1966 after a tumultuous period. The country has beautiful natural scenery but can be dangerous for tourists due to crime. Ecotourism is a focus, and the infrastructure is improving. Direct flights depart from some US cities, and overland crossings from Brazil are not permitted due to border conflicts with Venezuela.
Guyana is a medium-sized country in South America. It covers 83,000 square miles (215,000 square km), making it somewhat smaller than the state of Idaho. It borders Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela and has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean.
Guyana, like much of the north coast of South America, was settled by the Warao, Carib and Arawak long before the arrival of Europeans. While these groups were largely destroyed by European conquest, few remain. Guyana was first identified by Europeans in 1499, when Amerigo Vespucci, after whom the Americas are named, began mapping the coast. While a few small Portuguese and Spanish settlements formed in these early years, they rarely lasted long.
The Dutch first settled Guyana in the late 16th century, establishing their first armed fort in the 16th. Although the British settled parts of what is now Guyana, the Dutch controlled most of the region, while the British they settled mostly in what is now Suriname. The Dutch held Guyana until the late 18th century when the British took over the entire colony. The Dutch retook it for just one year before the British regained control, this time turning their attention to cementing their land ownership.
At this point slavery was abolished in parts of British Guiana, although it remained in effect in other regions until 1834. Following the abolition of slavery throughout Guyana and the subsequent flight of freed slaves into the interior of the region, British imported huge quantities of East Indian workers. This was similar to the situation in Suriname, where a large part of the population is made up of the descendants of these East Indian workers, as well as Portuguese and Chinese workers.
Guyana began the path to independence at about the same time as other nations in the regions, creating parties in the early 1950s and formulating the ideologies for the state yet to come. The dominant ideology, however, seemed to be leading down a track towards Marxism, which caused concern in both Britain and the United States. The British then suspended the Constitution in 1953 and sent in troops to make sure communist groups didn’t take over the country.
In the early 1960s, Guyana continued on its path to independence, which it finally achieved in 1966, after a tumultuous period in which the United States and the British worked to destabilize the country to reduce the influence of the Progressive Party Marxist-oriented People’s Party (PPP). . The founder of the PPP, Forbes Burnham, was elected Prime Minister and ruled the country firmly. In 1980, the country adopted a new constitution, which declared that the state was transitioning from a capitalist state to a socialist state, and named Burnham as executive president.
Burnham died in 1985, after more than 20 years in power. His successor began to pull the country away from socialism and destroyed many of Burnham’s autocratic policies. In 1992 Guyana held what was widely hailed as the first truly free elections since its independence, and the country has continued to be relatively democratic and open in its politics ever since.
Crime can be a problem in Guyana for travelers and tourists are advised to protect themselves from kidnapping and theft. The land compensates for these dangers, however, with some of the most pristine and beautiful natural scenery left on Earth. Waterfalls can be found all over Guyana, some of which are easily in the running for the most impressive on the planet. Kaieteur Falls, with its 820-foot (250m) drop and 330-foot (100m) width, rivals Victoria and Niagara in the amount of moving water. Surama village is also a highlight of Guyana where traditionally built huts are offered as accommodation for tourists. Guides are around to take visitors canoeing and hiking, and at night they can partake in a traditional meal and watch singing and dancing. Overall, Guyana is a great destination for those looking to go a little off the beaten track, and with their focus on ecotourism, the infrastructure is likely to continue to improve.
Flying to Guyana usually involves hopping from a Caribbean island or neighboring Venezuela or Suriname, although direct flights depart from some US cities. Crossing overland can be made from Brazil, but crossings there are not permitted due to border conflicts with Venezuela.
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