Geography of Guyana
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
5 00 N, 59 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries:
Coastline:
459 km
Maritime claims:
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)
Terrain:
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Elevation extremes:
Natural resources:
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Land use:
Irrigated land:
1,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
total:
214,970 sq km
land:
196,850 sq km
water:
18,120 sq km
total:
2,462 km
border countries:
Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
continental shelf:
200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Roraima 2,835 m
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
6%
forests and woodland:
84%
other:
8% (1993 est.)
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements