Location : Located in the South-American continent – 320 km of Atlantic Ocean Coasts to the North East.
Its name was given by Indians to the forest, which means " nameless "

Area : 90 000 km2

Population : Around 160 000

Main Cities : Cayenne, chief-town : 51 000, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni : 19 000, Kourou : 19 000

Climate : Equatorial

Practical Information

Time Zone : GMT – 3 hours

Currency : French Franc (then Euro)

Air & Sea Connections :
- 1 international airport in Rochambeau, close to Cayenne
- The local airline company, Air Guyane, for domestic flights
- Sea lines : CMA-CGM, Marfret, Chargeurs Réunis

Status

« Département d'outre-mer » by the Law of March, 19th 1946

- Prefect : 1 (Cayenna) – « Sous-préfet » : 1 (Saint-Laurent du Maroni)

- Deputies : 2 - Senator : 1

- 1 General Council and 1 Regional Council

- Districts : 2 - Parishes : 22 - Townships : 19

 

Statistics

Space Activity was developed in 1964 in Kourou. It is a major actor in the economy in Guyane.

Agriculture depends on the surface gained over the forest (which covers 96,7% of the territory ; wood is the main production) and is developing.
Rice cultivation is growing.

Fishing is the 2nd most important activity. Several methods are used : industrial as well as traditional fishing (shrimps). Cayenne is the 4th largest French Fishing Harbour.

Industries are concentrated on the Cayenna island et Kourou area.
Metallurgy : 22% - Food-industry : 17 %

Gold represents also an important ore resource for the economic activity.

Tourism is depending on business and space activities.