Geography of French Guiana

Geographic map of French Guiana

French Guiana is an overseas region of France, located on the northern coast of South America between Suriname and Brazil.

Location

Northern South America and part of Caribbean South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname

Geographic coordinates

4°00′N 53°00′W / 4°N 53°W / 4; -53

Map references

South America

Area

total: 91,000 km²
land: 89,150 km²
water: 1,850 km²

Land boundaries

total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km (disputed)
Coastline: 378 km

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)

Climate

Tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation, dry summers, rainy winters

Terrain

low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains, see Guiana Shield

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
other mountains: Montaigne d'Argent, on the edge of Oiapoque river regions: 432 m

Natural resources

bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish, shrimp

Land use

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 10% (1996 est.)
irrigated land: 20 km² (1993 est.)
natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
environment - current issues: NA
geography - note: mostly an unsettled wilderness