French Guiana
(French Guyane Française) French overseas département from 1946, and
administrative region from 1974, on the north coast of South America,
bounded W by Suriname and E and S by Brazil
Area:
83,500 sq km/32,230 sq mi
Capital:
Cayenne
Towns and Cities:
St Laurent
Features:
Eurospace rocket launch pad at Kourou; Îles du Salut, which include
Devil's Island
Industries:
Timber, shrimps, gold
Currency:
Franc
Population:
(1990) 114,800
Language:
90% Creole, French, Native American
Famous People:
Alfred Dreyfus
History:
First settled by France 1604, the territory became a French possession
1817; penal colonies, including Devil's Island, were established
from 1852; by 1945 the shipments of convicts from France ceased.
The status changed to an overseas d épartement 1946, and an administrative
region 1974.
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