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| Guyane française | |
|---|---|
| Name | Guyane française |
| Native name | Guyane |
| Capital | Cayenne |
| Largest city | Cayenne |
| Official languages | French language |
| Status | Overseas department and region of France |
| Area km2 | 83534 |
| Population estimate | 290000 |
| Population estimate year | 2020 |
| Density km2 | 3.5 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Time zone | French Guiana Time |
| Iso code | GF |
Guyane française is an overseas department and region located on the northeastern coast of South America. It borders Brazil and Suriname, faces the Atlantic Ocean, and contains vast areas of Amazon rainforest, indigenous territories, and coastal plains. The territory is administered as part of the French Republic and participates in institutions such as the European Union and the Schengen Area through its status.
Guyane française occupies part of the Guiana Shield, a Precambrian geological formation shared with Venezuela and Guyana (country). Major rivers include the Oyapock River on the border with Brazil, the Maroni River bordering Suriname, and the Approuague River flowing to the Atlantic Ocean. The interior features the Tumuc-Humac Mountains and the biologically important Trésor Peak areas; coastal zones include the communes of Cayenne, Kourou, and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. Protected areas include Guiana Amazonian Park and the Réserve Naturelle des Marais de Kaw-Roura, while transport links are anchored by Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport and the Guiana Space Centre at Kourou.
The region was first inhabited by peoples such as the Arawak and Carib people before European contact. Early colonial claims involved Spain, France, Netherlands, and England during the era of Age of Discovery. French colonization intensified with the establishment of settlements like Cayenne and plantations worked by enslaved Africans, linked to the transatlantic Atlantic slave trade. The 19th century saw uprisings and changes following abolition, including influences from the Second French Empire and the French Third Republic. During the 20th century Guyane française became an overseas department in 1946 under the Fourth French Republic, and sites such as the Îles du Salut and the Devil's Island penal colony entered literary and historical accounts through figures like Henri Charrière. The postwar period saw development tied to the creation of the Guiana Space Centre during the era of the European Space Agency and cooperation with nations including United States and Russia for aerospace activities.
As an overseas department and region, Guyane française is represented in the French National Assembly and the French Senate with deputies and senators elected from constituencies including Cayenne's 1st constituency. Local governance includes the Collectivité territoriale de Guyane and municipal councils such as in Kourou and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. Policy implementation often involves metropolitan institutions like the Ministry of Overseas France and coordination with European bodies such as the European Commission for regional development programs. Political life has seen mobilizations involving unions such as the Confédération générale du travail and local movements that have engaged with leaders from parties including La République En Marche! and France Insoumise.
Economic activity centers on the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, which hosts launches operated by Arianespace and satellites built by firms including Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space. Primary sectors include forestry tied to the Amazon rainforest, mining with companies exploring deposits comparable to regional projects in Suriname and Brazil, and fisheries off the Atlantic Ocean. Tourism draws visitors to sites linked with Devil's Island heritage and ecotourism in Guiana Amazonian Park. Financial ties use the Euro and economic policy aligns with standards from institutions such as the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Infrastructure projects have included port upgrades and road links influenced by bilateral agreements with Brazil for the Oyapock River Bridge.
The population is ethnically diverse, including descendants of Maroon communities such as the Saramaka and Aluku, Afro-descendants, populations of European French origin, and indigenous groups including the Wayana, Arawak, and Teko people. Immigrant communities originate from Haiti, Brazil, Suriname, and China among others. Religious affiliations include Roman Catholicism, Protestant denominations such as Pentecostalism, and ancestral indigenous spiritualities. Languages spoken alongside French language include Guianese Creole, indigenous languages, and Portuguese.
Cultural life blends traditions from Creole culture, indigenous practices of the Arawak and Carib people, and influences from metropolitan French culture. Festivals and events include Carnival celebrations akin to those in Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago as well as literary and music scenes influenced by writers like Aubin Olivier and musicians from genres related to zouk and kasékò. Culinary traditions feature dishes incorporating cassava and tropical fruits similar to cuisines of Suriname and Brazil, while museums such as the Musée Departmental de l'Amerique and cultural centers in Cayenne host exhibitions referencing regional artists and historical figures.
The territory is part of the Amazon biome and hosts exceptional biodiversity with species also recorded in IUCN Red List assessments such as jaguars, harpy eagles, and numerous primates including howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys. Conservation initiatives involve the Guiana Amazonian Park and collaborations with research institutions like CNRS and universities such as Université de Guyane. Environmental challenges include deforestation linked to illegal gold mining by operators sometimes connected to networks traced to Brazil and Suriname and concerns over mercury contamination monitored by agencies such as the World Health Organization. International environmental agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity inform protection strategies and scientific expeditions from organizations including WWF and Conservation International operate in the region.
Category:Overseas regions of France