ABOUT GUYANA
Geography & Regions
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. On the southern edge, the expansive Kanuku Mountain Range and Acarai Mountains can be found. These mountains welcome you into the interiors savannahs of Guyana known locally as the Rupununi. The vast and golden landscape is home to a plethora of adventures waiting to be had.
The entire country is fragmented into 10 administrative regions.
● Region 1 – Barima Waini
● Region 2 – Pomeroon-Supenaam
● Region 3 – Essequibo Islands-West Demerara
● Region 4 – Demerara- Mahaica
● Region 5 – Mahaica-Berbice
● Region 6 – East Berbice – Corentyne
● Region 7 – Cuyuni-Mazaruni
● Region 8 – Potaro-Siparuni
● Region 9 – Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo
● Region 10 – Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice
