Suriname, formerly known as Dutch Guiana, is a tropical paradise on South America’s northeastern coast. The country has a variety of landscapes packed into its borders, dotted with winding rivers and mountain ranges, dense jungles, and waterfalls.
Map of Suriname
Key geography facts
1. Suriname has a flat, swampy coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, while the interior features natural tropical rainforests that cover about 93% of the country, as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2020.
2. The major rivers, including the Courantyne and Maroni, flow northward into the Atlantic Ocean, with some forming part of Suriname’s borders with Guyana and French Guiana.
3. The highest peak in Suriname is Julianatop, standing at 1,230 meters (4,035 feet) of the Wilhelmina Mountains in central Suriname.
4. Located just north of the Equator, Suriname has a humid, tropical climate with hot temperatures year-round and heavy rainfall, especially in the central mountains.
5. Suriname is home to WJ van Bloomenstein Lake, one of the largest reservoir lakes in the world, and has around 14% of its land designated as national parks and nature reserves.
Recommended reading: Fun Facts About Suriname
Suriname regions
Suriname is divided into 10 administrative districts, which are:
- Brokopondo
- Commewijne
- Coronie
- Marowijne
- Nickerie
- Para
- Paramaribo
- Saramacca
- Sipaliwini
- Wanica
Map of Suriname in Europe
Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, and Brazil to the south.
Suriname major cities
Paramaribo – The capital and largest city, known for its Dutch colonial architecture and vibrant cultural scene.
Lelydorp – The second-largest city, located just south of Paramaribo, is known for its growing residential areas.
Nieuw Nickerie – A key city in the western part of the country, known for its rice production and proximity to the Guyana border.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.
Ivy Hollys is a freelance content writer for integrity-based information platforms. Her work focuses on presenting clear and accurate information about global topics. With a background in natural resource conservation, she brings a research-driven approach to writing accessible and reliable reference content.