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» Introduction of Suriname :

Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America, in terms of area and population. It was formerly known as Netherlands Guyana, or Dutch Guiana. Republic of Suriname is its official name. Suriname is situated between French Guiana to the east and Guyana to the west. The southern border is shared with Brazil and the northern border is the Atlantic coast. The southernmost borders with French Guiana Suriname, at 163,000 sq. km is the smallest sovereign state in terms of area in South America. The country is the only Dutch-speaking region in the world that is not a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands or Belgium, and is the only state outside Europe with Dutch as an official language

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General Information:

Capital: Paramaribo

Coordinates: 5°50′N 55°10′W

Official language: Dutch

Area: 163,821 km2

Population: 481,267

Currency: Surinamese dollar (SRD)

Time zone: ART (UTC-3)

Drives on the left

Calling code: +597

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History

Beginning in the 16th century, the area was discovered by French, Spanish, and English explorers. A century later, plantation colonies were established by the Dutch and English along the many rivers in the fertile Guyana plains. The earliest documented colony in Guiana was along the Suriname River and called Marshall’s Creek. The area was named after an Englishman. Disputes arose between the Dutch and the English. Suriname’s earliest inhabitants were the Surinen Indians, after whom the country is named. By the 16th century they had been supplanted by other South American Indians. Spain explored Suriname in 1593, but by 1602 the Dutch began to settle the land, followed by the English.

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Geography Suriname is the smallest independent country in South America lies on the northeast coast of South America. It is about one-tenth larger than Michigan. The principal rivers are the Corantijn on the Guyana border, the Marowijne in the east, and the Suriname, on which the capital city of Paramaribo is situated. The country can be divided into two main geographic regions. The northern, lowland coastal area has been cultivated, and most of the population lives here. The southern part consists of tropical rainforest and sparsely inhabited savanna along the border with Brazil, covering about 80% of Suriname’s land surface

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Language: The official language of Suriname is Dutch, but many people speak English. Sranan, Hindi, and other Asian Indian, African, and Amerindian languages are also spoken. Altogether, twenty-two languages are spoken. The most common language is Sranan Tongo, also called Taki-Taki.

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Religion: The main religion in Suriname is Christianity, followed by Hinduism and Islam. Some Christian groups also follow traditional African practices such as Obeah and Winti. Winti is a largely secret religion from West Africa. It recognizes a multitude of gods and ghosts, each having its own myths, rites, offerings, taboos (forbidden acts), and magical forces.

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