French Guiana Geography
French Guiana Geography: A summary of information about French Guiana Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
French Guiana: Geography
Location
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Geographic coordinates
4 00 N, 53 00 W
Map references
South America
Area
total: 91,000 sq km land: 89,150 sq km water: 1,850 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries
total: 1,183 km border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline
378 km
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain
low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Natural resources
bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 90% other: 10% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land
20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Environment - current issues
NA
Geography - note
mostly an unsettled wilderness
