Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

_#_Disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo river claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

_#_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 south

_#_Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

_#_Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 6%; forest and woodland 83%; other 8%; includes irrigated 1%

_#_Environment: flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons; water pollution

_*People #_Population: 749,508 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.4% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1991)