GUYANA lies in the Norteastern part of South America and is bordered to the West by Venezuela, to the South by Brazil and to the Southeast by Surinam. The Atlantic Ocean meets the 372 km (206 miles) of coastline on the North and East coasts.
Over 85% of the country is either dense hilly jungle and forest or high savannah uplands. There are over 1,600 km (965 miles) of navigable rivers, hence its name, of which the original spelling was 'Guiana' and translated means "land of many waters". On the Potaro River are the spectacular Kaieteur Falls which are five times the height of Niagra.

More than 25% of the population lives in or close to Georgetown, and the remainder live along the coastline where they produce sugar, rice and vegetables. One third of export earnings comes from the mining of bauxite, although gold mining is rapidly increasing. It is possible to visit the gold and diamond mining areas by going to the 'take-off' town at the junction of the Essequibo and Mazaroni Rivers.

Guyana has a warm tropical climate throughout the year. November to January and April to August are said to be the rainy seasons; the rainfall is generally high throughout the year.