Independence Day in Suriname

People all across SURINAME will celebrate their country's Independence Day on Wednesday, November 25th. Suriname achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1975. I hope the Surinamese people will have a Happy Independence Day!

Suriname Exports

According to National Geographic MapMaker (mapmaker.nationalgeographic.org), the following items are major exports of SURINAME: aluminum, bananas, bauxite, coconuts, copper, gold, iron ore, kaolin, lumber, meat, nickel (small amounts), packaged food, palm kernels, peanuts, petroleum, plantains, platinum, rice, and seafood. According to the International Monetary Fund (data.imf.org), countries and territories buying and importing most of those exports (February 2017 statistics) include Switzerland (top importer), the United Arab Emirates, Guyana, Belgium, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Jamaica, Barbados, Singapore, China, the Netherlands, Brazil, Venezuela, India, Montenegro, Peru, Aruba, Panama, Seychelles, Malta, and Haiti.

Suriname Endangered Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ for SURINAME in South America lists 5 critically endangered species and 11 endangered species. The following five species are critically endangered in Suriname: Acapu Tree (Vouacapoua americana), Atlantic Goliath Grouper, Caribbean Electric Ray, Daggernose Shark, and Largetooth Sawfish. These eleven species are endangered: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Baboonwood tree, Bois de Rose tree, Giant Otter, Golden Tilefish, Great Hammerhead Shark, Green Turtle, Micrathyria coropinae dragonfly, Nassau Grouper fish, Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, and Whale Shark. The Arrabal's Suriname Toad is one species named after the country.

Rivers Near South American Capitals

Capital cities in all varieties of countries are often located next to or close to rivers and streams. Rivers facilitate trade, convenient transportation, beautification of cities, and recreation activities for residents and tourists. Almost every capital in South America straddles a major river. At the very least, every capital in the continent has rivers, streams, and canals flowing near or within them. In the text below, every country's name has a convenient link to their posts; these links open in new tabs or windows.

Buenos Aires, the capital of ARGENTINA
     ― Río de la Plata and Riachuelo (Río de la Matanza)

La Paz, one of the capitals of BOLIVIA
     ― Río Choqueyapu and Río Seco

Sucre, the other capital of Bolivia
     ― Río Cachimayu

Brasília, the capital of BRAZIL
     ― Ribeirão Taguatinga (stream) and Río São Bartolomeu

Santiago, the capital of CHILE
     ― Canal San Carlos (manmade canal), Río Maipo, and Río Mapocho

Bogotá, the capital of COLOMBIA
     ― Río Bogotá and Río Tunjuelo

Quito, the capital of ECUADOR
     ― Río San Pedro

Cayenne, the capital of FRENCH GUIANA (overseas territory)
     ― Canal LeBlond (manmade canal) and Rivière des Cascades

Georgetown, the capital of GUYANA
     ― Demerara River and east of Essequibo River

Asunción, the capital of PARAGUAY
     ― Arroyo Leandro Sosa (stream) and Río Paraguay

Lima, the capital of PERU
     ― Río Lurín, Río Rímac, and south of Río Chillón

Paramaribo, the capital of SURINAME
     ― Suriname River (Surinamerivier in Dutch)

Montevideo, the capital of URUGUAY
     ― Arroyo Miguelete and Arroyo Pantanoso (streams north and northwest of Montevideo)

Carácas, the capital of VENEZUELA
     ― Quebrada Caroata (stream) and Río Guaire

Suriname's Disputed Borders

SURINAME, a small country in the northern part of South America whose capital is Paramaribo, claims areas of land to the west and east of the southern portion of the country. To the west, Suriname claims a triangular piece of land that stretches less than 150 miles wide. It is currently part of Guyana and expands to the west at New River. To the east, Suriname claims part of French Guiana, an overseas region belonging to France. Gold was found in the area of land that stretches from the Litani River (current border) east to a branch of the Maroni River within French Guiana.

Suriname

SURINAME is a relatively small country located in northern South America. Suriname's bordering countries are Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana. It also borders the North Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Paramaribo. The currency is the Surinamese Dollar, and its ISO 4217 currency code is SRD.