Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Guyana

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Guyana.

Speed

Did You Know?

14 curious facts about Guyana.

The word Guyana takes its name from a Native word, Guyana, meaning, land of many waters.
Guyana's most famous tourist attraction, the Kaieteur Falls, is among the five biggest waterfalls in the world. It is 250 m high, higher than Niagara Falls, and 100 m wide in the rainy season. It is surrounded by thick forest.
The famous English explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh, visited Guyana in 1595. He believed that El Dorado, a legendary city where even the streets were made of gold, existed somewhere in Guyana. His book describing Guyana's riches inspired many Europeans to seek their fortunes there.
Guyana has the most unusual racial mix in South America. It is woven into every aspect of life in Guyana. For example, there are places with Dutch and Spanish names. Hindu temples and mosque domes can be seen, and you can hear calypso music, which is a blend of African rhythm and Spanish and native melodies.

Guyana's Omai Gold Mine is the largest open-pit gold mine in South America.
Canada is currently the number one foreign investor in Guyana. It has been trading with Guyana since the 1920s.
Georgetown has a vibrant and varied music scene where people enjoy listening to western, Caribbean and East Indian music.
Aloe is a common medicine in Guyana and is used for a variety of ailments such as skin rashes, stomach ulcers, cuts, burns, sores, coughs and colds.
The brightest elementary students enter certain prestigious schools based on the results of a national entrance examination taken at age 11 or 12. National scholarship winners for university studies are usually graduates of these prestigious schools.
The same grammatical structure is used for both questions and statements. The difference is conveyed in the tone and pitch of the words. The statement “John mother sick”, spoken in a flat even tone, means that John's mother is ill. The same words said in a higher pitch and a questioning tone means “s John's mother sick?”