CaribbeanTravel.com Directory - (Page 131) GUYANA a stunning land of MANY WATERS uyana, whose Indian name means “land of many waters” appeals to birding enthusiasts and adventurers excited by the prospect of encountering rare species and pristine wilderness. With more rivers than roads, its sparsely inhabited jungles, savannah and forests are best explored by boat and small plane. In many remote areas, villages have no electricity and the indigenous people still hunt with bows and arrows and fish for survival. Outside of Georgetown, the small capital city, small, simple inns make visitors feel comfortable and welcome. At some, electricity may be limited to certain hours or unavailable, and a hammock may serve as a bed. On guided trips along the rivers—with overnight camping if desired—participants may get up-close views of jaguars, sloths, giant river otters and howler monkeys. Rare Harpy Eagles, which require huge unspoiled expanses of land to thrive, the elusive Guyana Cock-of-the Rock, and 700-plus other indigenous bird species can be spotted here, G placing Guyana high on the wish lists of bird-watchers everywhere. The only English-speaking country in South America, Guyana’s European influence is most felt in Georgetown. Here, the Dutch left a legacy of canals and a sea wall before the British took over. Africans and East Indians originally brought to work the sugar cane plantations are the majority of Guyana’s population today and live mostly along the coast. Georgetown charms visitors with wide tree-lined avenues and 18th and 19th century buildings including the St. Georges Cathedral, one of the tallest free-standing wooden structures in the world, as well as Hindu temples and Muslim mosques. WATERFALLS AND RAINFORESTS In a land with more than 300 stunning waterfalls, Kaieteur Falls is the most awesome. Here the 400-foot-wide Potaro River plunges more than 700 feet — one of the longest single-drop waterfalls in the world and, in- cluding the lower falls, about five times the height of Niagara Falls. The surrounding park protects one of the most bio-diverse rainforests in the world including fascinating Tank Bromeliads, in which the tiny golden frog spends its entire life. The Iwokrama Mountain Rainforest — home to the Makushi people as well as jaguars, the world’s largest otters and hundreds of other exotic species — is carefully being opened to green tourism. Trained guides lead a variety of dawn, nocturnal and daytime excursions, and from a Canopy Walkway, a series of suspension bridges and decks, visitors can observe the mid and upper canopy without disturbing the flora and fauna. Welcoming Amerindian villages such as Surama offer visitors simple accommodations and trained guides. GUYANA GEOGRAPHY: Guyana, 83,000 square miles in area, is located on the northeast shoulder of the South American continent, east of Venezuela. There are four distinct areas: the coastal belt; the forested and mountainous area; hilly, sand and clay; and the savannah zone. Guyana is notable for its mighty rivers, the three most important being the Demerara, the Berbice, and the Essequibo. LANGUAGE: English and Creole. POPULATION: 749,970. CLIMATE: Average temperature ranges from between 75ºF-87ºF. TIME: EST +1. GMT -4. 131
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