Suriname
Capital
Paramaribo
Population
~612,000
Currency
Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- Dutch (official), Sranan Tongo (lingua franca)
- Religion
- Diverse; Christian, Hindu, Muslim
- Climate
- Tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Culture & History
Known for: vast pristine rainforests, Dutch colonial heritage (Paramaribo UNESCO site), and highly diverse ethnic makeup (Indian, Creole, Javanese, Maroon)
Also famous for: Being smallest South American country by population, bauxite mining (historically), unique cultural blend
Food: Pom (chicken and root vegetable casserole), Roti, Moksi Alesi (mixed rice)
Brief History
British and Dutch colony (focus on sugar plantations), independence 1975, periods of military rule and economic difficulty