Part of Wikijunior South America project
French Guiana is an overseas department of France, located on the northern coast of South America. Like France, its currency is the euro.
History
French Guiana was originally inhabited by a number of American Peoples. It was settled by the French in the 17th Century. A border dispute with Brazil occurred in the late 19th century over a large area of the jungle. This dispute caused the French Guiana to be an independent state until it could be resolved. In 1946, French Guiana became an overseas department of France. In the 1970s Hmong refugees came from Laos and settled in. In the 1970s and 1980s there became an increase of French people moving to settle in the area.
Geography
The French Guiana area is tropical and is usually hot and humid with a total area of 91,000 kilometers squared. There is little seasonal temperature difference with dry summers and rainy winters. French Guiana's population is around 209,000, most of whom live along the coastal region. Much of French Guiana is a national park.