Athletes and political officeholders are Suriname's famous people.

Specifically, Suriname is one of the lesser known of South America's thirteen (13) countries. It nevertheless has its share of famous people, such as artists, businessmen, designers, entertainers, musicians and writers. These people are famous for their achievements within Suriname even though they may not be well known on a widespread basis throughout the world. Instead, it comes down to athletes on European soccer teams and Suriname's presidents who are famous within Suriname's borders and beyond.

There are a variety of housing styles in Suriname. Housing ranges from rural to towns to the capital city of Paramaribo. Houses are built of wood or other materials. In the forested interior where only 5 percent of the population live there are thatch huts. Also the Maroon descendants of escaped slaves live in highly decorated wooden houses. In rural areas houses sometimes are built on stilts. In Paramaribo and in Suriname's towns there are still houses in the Dutch colonial style.

So the range is from humble abodes to mansions.
There are a variety of housing styles in Suriname. Half of Suriname's population live in the capital city of Paramaribo. The other half of the population live in the smaller towns along the coast. Many of the descendants of African slaves live in the forested interior. The range of housing is typical of any tropical climate, from huts to houses on stilts to city dwellings.

The major ethnic groups in Suriname are Hindustani(Hindoestanen), Javanese, Surinamese Creoles, and Surinamese Maroons.

Specifically, Hindus are the largest ethnic group at 27 percent of the population. They are descendants of 19th-century contract workers from the Northern Indian states of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Surinamese Creoles make up 18 percent. They are mixed descendants of West African slaves and Europeans (mostly Dutch).

The Javanese make up 15 percent. They are descendants of contract workers from the former Dutch East Indian island of Java.

Surinamese Maroons make up 15 percent. They are descendants of escaped West African slaves.

Descendants of Indian contract laborers are what make up Suriname's Hindu population.

Specifically, Suriname was a former English colony that fell under Dutch colonial rule through the provisions of the Treaty of Breda of July 31, 1667. The English and the Dutch had competing and overlapping interests in the Americas and in Asia. They therefore found grounds for conflict and for cooperation. In terms of getting along, the English agreed to supply indentured workers from their colony in India at a time that the Dutch needed a large, hard working labor supply for the plantation economies in Suriname.

The Guiana Shield is the name for the highlands that separate French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela from Brazil.

Specifically, the term refers to an ancient geological formation that is found on the northeastern portion of the South American continent. It forms all of the northern coastline running from French Guiana, through Suriname and into Guyana and part of the coast upon which Venezuela fronts. The highest portions of the Shield are called the Guiana Highlands.

Western style clothes are popular in Suriname. But traditional styles also are seen inside and outside the home. Hindu men wear dhoti kurta [long loincloth with long shirt]. Hindu women wear saris with cholis [short top]. Women of Javanese descent may be seen in traditional kain kebaya [sarong with blouse]. It also is common to see Surinamese creole women in their koto [loose long dress] with angisa [headpiece].

For more information, and photographs, please visit the links provided below.

Much of Suriname is either uninhabited or sparsely populated. So the important cities tend to be those that are administrative, business, cultural and governmental centers in the country. Specifically, Suriname is divided into ten administrative centers. Eight particularly are active in the running of the Surinamese economy and polity.

Most important of all the districts is the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo is Suriname's capital and largest city. Its population is over 240,000. Its inner city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Other important districts are Brokopondo, Commewijne, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Saramacca, and Wanica. In half of the districts, only the district capital city is an important center. In the other half, there's another important center in addition to the district capital.

Those districts with one important city each are found in the north of the country. Para's important center is its district capital city at Onverwacht. Saramacca's important center is its district capital city at Groningen. Wanica's important center is its district capital city at Lelydorp. Lelydorp may be considered the second most important city nationally, after Paramaribo. It's population of around 19,580 is second to the national capital.

Two of the districts with more than one important center are found in the north. One is Brokopondo District. Its important centers include Brownsweg, and the district capital city at Brokopondo. Commewijne's important centers include Nieuw Amsterdam and the district capital city at Marienburg.

Another district with two important centers is Marowijne in the northeast. Its important centers include Moengo and the district capital city at Albina.

Still another is Nickerie in the northwest. Its important centers include Wageningen and the district capital city at Nieuw Nickerie.

1-5 landmarks

A number of Suriname's landmarks are in Paramaribo, Suriname's capital.

One, The historic inner city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002. The original, characteristic Dutch colonial street plans are well preserved, along with its distinctive blend of Dutch architecture with traditional local techniques and materials.

Two, the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Mosque was completed in 1932. The current mosque was completed in 1984. The mosque is next to the Neveh Shalom Synagogue.

Three, Fort Zeelandia was built and reinforced by the English under the name of Fort Willoughby in 1651. The French had built a fort around a Dutch trading post in that location in 1640. The name was changed to Fort Zeelandia in 1667 when the Dutch gained control of the area.

Fort Zeelandia is a pentagon with a bastion at each of its five corners. The fort later was turned into a barracks and then a prison. In 1967 it was turned into the Suriname Museum. By 1982 it had reverted to being a prison. On December 18, 1982 its courtyard was the scene of the 'December murders', with the executions of 15 military opponents of the military regime of Desiré Delano Bouterse [b. October 13, 1945].

In 1995 the fort became the home of the Stichting Surinaams Museum.

Four, Neveh Shalom Synagogue originally was completed in 1723. The current building was completed 1842-1843.

Five, St. Peter and Paul Cathedral [Sint Petrus en Paulus Kathedraal] was built from 1883 to 1885. There are 18 confession rooms. The cathedral can accommodate up to 340 people. It claims to be the largest wooden building in the Western Hemisphere. Its dimensions are 161 feet [51 meters] long, 48 feet [17 meters] high in the main hall, and 54 feet [18 meters] wide. Its height measures 162 feet [53 meters] to the top of the church spires. That figure doesn't include the brass crosses atop the spires.

Suriname is located in northern South America in the northern and western hemispheres.

Specifically, Suriname is bordered to the north by the Atlantic Ocean. French Guiana is on its east border. Brazil is on its southern border. Guyana is to the west. The geographic coordinates of Suriname are 4 degrees North latitude 56 degrees West longitude.