Suriname

By: Parul

Fast Facts

Capital: ParamariboLargest City: ParamariboCurrency: Suriname DollarLand: 63,038 sq miles Official language: DutchPopulation: 524,000 Type of Government: Constitutional democracy

Famous Landmarks• The

Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul now have exceeded one hundred and twenty seven years of existence.

• Another landmark in Suriname is the bridge named after the former President

                                         

The symbol represents the belief of life in your palm

oThe English established sugar and tobacco plantations on the west bank of the Suriname River around 1650 and founded the settlement now known as Paramaribo.

oTwo decades later, the Dutch took possession in one of the silliest property deals ever transacted, by swapping New Amsterdam (present-day New York) for the English territory in Suriname.

To expand their plantations, the Dutch imported West African slaves.

. The abolition of slavery led to labor shortages in the early 19th century, and indentured laborers were brought in from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), India, China, Portugal and Lebanon.

Suriname remained a colony until 1954, when it became a self-governing state; another 20 years passed before it gained independence.

National Holidays