Suriname is the smallest country in South America but home to diverse cultures.
It falls in the northeastern Atlantic Coast and is bordered by French Guiana to the east, Brazil in the south and Guyana in the west.
Most of the people live in the coastal region in the north. The coastal area is made up of a new and old plain. The young coastal plain was formed starting 12,000 years ago and is 0-4m above sea level. The old coastal plain was formed between two million and 12,000 years ago. This region is 4-11m above sea level. Being an ancient plain, this region has varied landforms — for instance old sandy elevations covered with grass, mud flats and clay swamps in which a great deal of peat has formed.
South of the old coastal plain, you see a terrain of sandy deposits and hills. This region is a blend of marshes, rainforests and grasslands.
The country enjoys a tropical climate. But, northern Suriname witnesses four seasons — two rainy and two dry — both for a shorter and longer duration respectively. The central and southeastern areas of the country receive maximum rainfall.
The main rivers — Rivers Courantyne, Suriname, Maroni and Coppename flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The interior southern part is mountainous, with tropical rainforests and hilly parts. Juliana Top is the highest peak in the Wilhelmina Mountains.
On the table
Suriname’s cuisine is inspired by varied cultures — India, Africa, Indonesia, Portuguese and Netherlands. Interestingly, since Suriname was a Dutch colony till 1970, the Dutch brought in Indonesian labourers. So, Moksi-alesi, made of salted meat, shrimp/fish, vegetables and rice, a dish similar to Indonesian fried rice, nasi goreng. Tropical climatic conditions bring in coconut and plantains. Bojo cake is a popular coconut dessert made up of coconut and cassava. Stockfish known as ‘bakkeljauw’, which is dried unsalted fish is used along with vegetables. Pom, a Portuguese Jewish influence, is a baked dish of chicken, vegetables and pomtajer (new cocoyam) root. But chicken and rice is the national dish.
Finer things in life
Dutch is the official language of Suriname. The Dutch influence is apparent in the architecture, especially the years between 1950 and 1970. The Maroons, of African descent, were brought in by the Dutch as labourers. They contributed to the field of art and are well known for their woodcarvings and paintings. Because of the presence of Indians, folk music is played with instruments like harmonium, tabla, dholak, dhantal and sitar. Kaseko, a music style, is a blend of European, American and African cultures.
Telling their story
Cynthia Mcleod’s first book was about the sugar cane industry in the 18th century in her bestseller titled Hoe duur was de suiker?(The Cost of Sugar) .
Like other South American countries, football, as well as basketball and volleyball are popular sports.
