Capital: Cayenne

Language: French

Currency: Euro

French Guiana is an overseas department of France on the northeast coast of South America, composed mainly of tropical rainforest. The ruins of 17th-century Fort Cépérou overlook the capital, Cayenne, with its colourful Creole houses and street markets. Shops and cafes surround the palm-filled main square, Place des Palmistes. The Rémire-Montjoly suburb is lined with Atlantic coast beaches.

One of the most prominent events is its Carnival, which is considered one of the longest in the world: it starts on Sunday afternoon, between Epiphany (early January) and ends on Ash Wednesday (February or March). According to each year’s theme, several groups in costumes parade in floats to the sound of percussion instruments and metals, and thousands of spectators follow the groups’ resourcefulness. The Chinese community present in the country also participates, adding more charm to the parades with their characteristic dragons!

Geography

French Guiana borders the North Atlantic Ocean in Northern South America and is mostly low-lying coastal plains that also rise into hills and small yet gorgeous mountains!  With an equatorial tropical climate, both hot and humid with little seasonal change, it is also the only territory in the Americas under control of a European country!  It Is the second largest region in France and the largest outermost region within the European Union!  It is not just small in size, but also very thin in population with a density of only 3.4 inhabitants per square kilometre!

Culture

Of course, Amerindian settlements influence ethnic traditions throughout French Guiana and maintain both dress and religious beliefs, but, unlike other South America areas, there is little Spanish influence, instead being heavily influenced by the French!

Gastronomy

French food helps dictate Guyanese cuisine, particularly bread and pastries, with well-known patisseries throughout Cayenne. The mixture of creole, bushinengue, and indigenous cultures come together in its cuisine, culminating in various fish dishes and the awara broth, a traditional Easter dish which is prepared with an incredibly large number of ingredients (such as, but not exclusive to, bacon, cabbage, awara pulp, shrimp, crab, etc.)!

French Guiana has had, like most South American lands, extensive immigrant populations. Vietnamese, Chinese, Creole and Indonesian foods help add extra flavour to the culinary mix, and, with a benefit of exotic game in the forests, it really culminates into a unique recipe of deliciousness!