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“Land of Waters” 13

Quick Facts: The Geography of Guyana

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean between Suriname and Venezuela Area: (slightly smaller than Idaho) total: 83,000 square miles (214,970 sq km) land: 76,004 square miles (196,850 sq km) water: 6,996 square miles (18,120 sq km) Borders: Brazil, 695 miles (1,119 km);

Climate: tropical, hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January) Terrain: mostly rolling highlands, low coastal plain; savanna in the south Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean—0 feet highest point: Mount Roraima—9,219 feet (2,812 meters) Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Suriname, 238 miles (600 km); Venezuela, 462 miles (743 km)

Source: CIA World Factbook 2015.

Climate Because of its location near the equator, Guyana’s climate is tropical. Most of the year it is warm and humid with very little variation in tempera- ture. In fact, the temperature varies more from daytime to nighttime than it does from season to season. The coastline is affected by northeast trade winds, and its seaside loca- tion ensures that temperature changes rarely occur. This region has the mildest weather in Guyana, with average temperatures around 80°F (27°C). In the interior rain forest areas, however, temperatures can surpass 100°F (38°C) and are made even more uncomfortable by the high humidity com-