Probably one of the most interesting facts about Suriname is that it owes its Dutch history to the settlement of a treaty between England and the Netherlands. England was allowed to claim ownership of New Amsterdam (currently New York) in exchange for handing over the Netherlands Guaina, as Suriname was called back in the 1600s. The Dutch continued to rule Suriname until they gained their independence on 25 November 1975.

Suriname is a relatively tiny country of only about 63,000 square miles. It is bordered by the massive Brazil to the south, French Guinea to the east and Guyana to the west. Most of the country’s half a million citizens live on the coastal plain because 80% of the country is made up of tropical rain forest. About 250,000 people live in the capital of Paramaribo alone, making it densely populated.

Due to Suriname’s history of slavery and indentured labor, approximately 35% of Surinamese are of East Indian descent and about 31% Creole or a mix of black and white with the remainder comprising Javanese, African, Chinese, White and Amerindian. The main religion is Hindu closely followed by Protestants, Roman Catholics, Muslims and indigenous faiths.

Surinamese officially speak Dutch, as this is the language that is taught in schools but they also commonly speak English and Sranan Tongo a local dialect also known as Taki Taki. Hindustani, Javanese and Portuguese are also quite common in certain sects.

The city of Paramaribo offers travelers a scenic view. Much of the 17th century architecture has been preserved giving the place a quaint old world flavor. There is a comfortable juxtaposition of French, Spanish, English and Dutch architecture and the result is actually quite pleasant. The remainder of the landscape though is very untouched and there is an abundance of lush vegetation that leads directly into the thick of the rainforest. Guided tours can be arranged if you would like to venture further into the forest to see firsthand the several different species of animals and birds that live just on the outskirts of the city.

You can also take a river tour and visit one of the indigenous villages. Tourist can walk among the inhabitants and take a closer look at what life is like in the forest. Of course the villagers understand the concept of tourists and are always prepared to display their craft which they also offer for sale. There are tours for every interest, from those interested in indigenous cultures, to nature lovers, bird lovers and the list goes on.

The water off Suriname is not the best for swimming, although there are a few brown water rivers that are popular bathing spots. Colakreek is one such river, but Surinamese tend to cool off in one of the public swimming pools that dot the city. Hotels and vacation rentals usually all have swimming pools as well.

The bauxite industry is the main source of revenue for Suriname. Bauxite and aluminum oxide account for about 70% of Surinamese exports. Suriname not only has one of the richest deposits of bauxite in the world, but because of the construction of a dam and artificial lake by ALCOA, the American Aluminum Company, it also has one of the cheapest supplies of hydro-energy, an important factor in aluminum smelting. Of course the downside of this is the resultant pollution of the water and areas surrounding the plant.

Thus Suriname is a land of contrasts. The Surinamese manage to balance housing one of the largest offenders of pollution, an aluminum smelter, while also sustaining life for the inhabitants of the jungle.