GUIANA, ge-lifna. A territory in the north east part of South America, bounded by the At lantic on the north, by Brazil and the Atlantic on the east, and by Brazil and Venezuela on the west (Map: South America, D 2). Its area is estimated at 175,400 square miles. (Brazilian Guiana, lying on the south, is sometimes em braced under this general heading.) Guiana has not been thoroughly explored. Its surface may be described, on the whole, as a plateau rising toward the west and north, with an average eleva tion of about 3200 feet. The mountains have nowhere been found to rise higher than the peak Roraima (8600 feet). This mountain is on the western boundary, and belongs to the Pacaraima range. Along the southern border of Guiana is the low Tumue Humac range. The coast is level and low, and dikes keep back the ocean at many points.
Guiana is a well-watered country, numerous rivers coursing through it northward to the sea. The most important of them are the Essequibo (600 miles in length, the longest river in Guia na), Mazaruni, Berbice, Corentyn, and Maroni (400 miles). Owing to numerous rapids and falls, they are navigable only for comparatively short distances. Of the many fertile valleys, none has any considerable extent except the depression lying between the Essequibo and the Corentyn. Little is known of the geology of Guiana, except in the southern part, near the Brazilian boundary, where valuable deposits of gold have given an impetus lately to geological ex ploration. In this region gneisses and granites are found to underlie heavy beds of sandstone and other stratified rocks of undetermined age.
The climate is tropical. Owing to the intense heat and humidity along the coast, the northern portion of Guiana is particularly unhealthful.
Both here and up along the rivers fevers have greatly interfered with the development of the country by Europeans. The climate of the upland interior is naturally more moderate and inviting. The rainy period extends from the last of April until the middle of August, during which time there is a very heavy precipitation. Along the coast there is a second and lighter rainy season from November to February. In the short dry periods of the year east winds prevail. Guiana is free from hurricanes. The vegetation is wholly equatorial. In the lower and northern sections heavy forests cover the land. They usually ex tend well up toward the higher parts. The forests, like the fauna; are similar to those of the Amazon region, possessing valuable medicinal and dye woods and the typical wild fruits of the torrid zone. The magnificent Victoria regia was first made known from the Berbice River. The plateau itself, so far as explored, is practically barren. The low, forest-covered lands are very fertile, but are surpassed in richness by the tide irrigated coast strip. The cultivated land pro duces the usual tropical crops, as well as some of a less torrid region. Among the larger animals may be mentioned the jaguar, sloth, tapir, ant eaters, capybara, and numerous monkeys (howl ers, capuchins, marmosets). The boa, anaconda. and a number of venomous species represent the serpents.
Politically Guiana is divided into three coun tries—British, Dutch, and French Guiana.