If you imagine the word “Latin America” as God’s forgotten land, exotic and unusual for the average Russian, then you imagine Guyana. Located in South America, this country boasts an extremely colorful culture and a rich history stretching from colonial times.
At the end of 2015, Russia and Guyana began to operate a visa-free regime.
Guyana is the only South American country in which English is a state language.
In Guyana, there is one of the world’s largest waterfalls – the waters of Keithura are falling from the mountain among the humid rain forests from a height of 226 meters. Thus, this waterfall is 2 times higher than the Victoria of Victoria and 5 times higher than the famous Niagara.
The indigenous inhabitants of the country, the Indians, are not integrated into its modern life – they live separately in the central regions of Guyana, engaged in hunting and gathering.
Almost the entire territory of Guyana (90% of its area) is occupied by moist jungles.
Christmas in Guyana is considered a national holiday. Despite the suffocating heat that reigns at this time of year, Santa Claus traditionally wears a fur coat.
On the territory of Guyana, the world’s largest water lily grows, called “Eviral Amazonika” or “Victoria Regia”. This amazing flower spreads around itself the aroma of pineapple and banana (also, check Interesting facts about Victoria).
In translation from the language of the Arawak Indians (one of the tribes of local natives) the name of the state is translated as “the land of great water”.
In the capital of Guyana is the highest in the world Anglican Cathedral, entirely built of wood – the Cathedral of St. George. The height of the bell tower of this church, erected in the Gothic style, is 40 meters.
In the jungles of Guyana, many unique plants grow – 35% of them do not occur anywhere else in the world.
Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, is the most dangerous city in South America.
In Guyana there is the so-called “Shell Beach”, which inhabits four of the eight species of sea turtles, which are on the verge of extinction.
On Easter weekend in Guyana, a large-scale Letem-Rodeo (or Rodeo Rupununi) is held, which from ordinary events cowboys in recent years has turned into a large-scale sports festival, which attracts participants from all over the world.
The design of the flag of Guyana, which is called the “Golden Arrow”, was developed by the American expert on the banners of Whitney Smith.
Guyanese are very superstitious, and, despite the wide spread of Christianity, they believe in nature spirits and perform a lot of very unusual rituals. So, young girls are rubbed into the skin with the juice of hot pepper to protect them from “ol-hang” – a local analog of a vampire.
The confusion of religions and pagan beliefs led to the fact that many Guyanese are baptized, facing some particularly revered trees, so as not to anger the spirits.
The highest mountain of Guyana, Roraima, is considered the prototype of a wonderful peak on which the action of the “Lost World” by Arthur Conan Doyle unfolds.
The main national holiday of Guyana is the Republic Day (“Mashramani”), which is celebrated on 23 February.
Guyana – one of the most humid countries on Earth – for a year in the mountainous regions of the country falls to 4000 mm of precipitation.
In all of Guyana there is not a single building above three floors.
