Suriname

Suriname (or Surinam) is a nation located on the northern coast of the continent of South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname borders the French region of French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the west. It is the smallest independent country in South America.

Suriname is divided into two basic ecological zones: a northern lowland coastal zone, where the great majority of the population lives, and a thick southern rainforest.

Surinam derives its name from the Surinen, a tribe of Amerindians who first inhabited the area at the time of European contact. Settled first by the Dutch and English in the 17th century, the region was known as Dutch Guiana until it became an independent country in 1975. Today, the nation boasts a highly diverse population, with many inhabitants with ancestry from former Dutch colonies across the globe. Over 30% of the population claims East Indian ancestry and 15% claim Javanese ancestry. 10% of the population are descendants of escaped African slaves.

• Google News: Suriname
• Official Site: De Ware Tijd (Daily News)
• Official Site: De West (Daily News)
• International Herald Tribune: Suriname, a land of many tongues, seeks its own (March 23, 2008)
  • Languages spoken in Suriname include the official language of Dutch as well as Chinese, Hindi, Javanese, English, and Portugese. Locals argue the official language should be English, though many also are proponents of the local Creole language called Sranan Tongo.
• Science Direct: 24 Species Believed New To Science Discovered In Suriname Rainforest (June 05, 2007)