By Guyana Tourism Authority GEOGRAPHY
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north , and Venezuela , Brazil and Suriname , Guyana is South America ’ s best kept secret . Miles of golden savannahs , pristine virgin rainforest , hundreds of kilometres of coastline , and a hilly sand and clay region – Guyana has it all . Of the country ’ s population of 746,955 ( 2012 census ), 87 % lives along the coast , leaving the country ’ s lush interior untouched and ripe for exploration .
Although no larger than Great Britain or Oregon in the USA , with 18 % of the world ’ s tropical forests , it is one of the four regions in the world that makes up the 270 million hectares of Guiana Shield . With breathtaking waterfalls , mighty rivers , and a large diversity of wildlife and bird species , Guyana has emerged as a playground of the 21st century explorers and travellers .
REGIONS
Guyana ’ s landscape can be divided broadly into four main areas , known as our Natural Regions . The low coastal plains on the northern edge of the country are made up of marsh and swamp , with enormous mud flats stretching into the sea .
The hilly sand and clay area is the smallest natural region area of the country and found along the coast . The forested highlands in the interior of the country offer a more dramatic setting , with dense tropical rainforest , mountains and plateaus , interspersed with eco-lodges and indigenous villages found nestling among its lush greenery .
The Pakaraima Mountains guard the western border , with the famous Mount Roraima – the nation ’ s tallest peak ( 2762 meters ) – proudly keeping its head above the clouds . The Kaieteur Plateau lies on the southern edge of the Pakaraimas , from where the Kaieteur Falls plunge down 741 feet as one the tallest and most powerful waterfalls in the world .
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