View source for Geography of Suriname

{{Short description|none}}
{{cleanup|reason=Condense sections and remove areas with no information. |date=April 2013}}

{{Infobox country geography
| name               = Suriname
| map                = PAT - Suriname.gif
| continent          = [[South America]]
| region             = [[Caribbean]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|4|00|N|56|00|W|type:country}}
| area ranking       = 90th
| km area            = 163,820
| percent land       = 95.33
| km coastline       = 386
| exclusive economic zone = {{convert|127,772|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| borders            = total length {{convert|1,707|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| geographic center  =
| highest point      = [[Juliana Top]] <br> {{convert|1230|m|ft|sp=us}} 
| lowest point       = [[Caribbean Sea]] <br> {{convert|0|m}}
| longest river      = [[Courantyne River]] <br> {{convert|724|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| largest lake       = [[Brokopondo Reservoir]] <br> {{convert|1,560|km|mi|abbr=on}}
}}

[[Image:Suriname geology NL annot.svg|thumb|right|270px|Topographic map of Suriname and [[Exclusive economic zone|EEZ]] (exclusive economic zone).]]

[[Suriname]] is located in the northern part of [[South America]] and is part of [[Caribbean South America]], bordering the North [[Atlantic Ocean]], between [[French Guiana]] and [[Guyana]]. It is mostly covered by tropical rainforest, containing a great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, are increasingly threatened by new development. There is a relatively small population, most of which live along the coast.

There are currently two unresolved border disputes that affect the geography of Suriname, namely the [[Tigri Area]] in the southwestern region near [[Guyana]] and also the Marouini/Litani region with [[French Guiana]] in the southeast.

==Location==

'''Geographic coordinates:''' {{coord|4|00|N|56|00|W|type:country}}

'''Continent:'''
South America

===Area===
''Total:''
{{convert|163820|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}
<br>''Land:''
{{convert|156000|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}
<br>''Water:''
{{convert|7820|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}

'''Area - comparative:'''
See order of magnitude [[1 E+11 m²]]. Slightly larger than [[Tunisia]].

===Land boundaries===
{{main|Borders of Suriname}}
[[File:Suriname1991 Karte umstrittene Gebiete.jpg|thumb|270px|Suriname with the disputed areas, including the [[Tigri Area]] controlled by [[Guyana]] and southeastern area controlled by [[French Guiana]].]]
[[File:Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië-Surinam north-Benj004ency01ill stitched.jpg|thumb|270px|Suriname (circa 1914) in the Encyclopedia of the Dutch West Indies, by Surinamese cartographer [[Herman Benjamins]] and Dutch ethnographer [[Johannes François Snelleman|Johannes Snelleman]].]]
''Total:''
{{convert|1703|km|mi|sp=us}}

''Border countries:''
*[[Brazil]] - {{convert|593|km|mi|sp=us}}
*[[French Guiana]] - {{convert|510|km|mi|sp=us}}
*[[Guyana]] - {{convert|600|km|mi|sp=us}}

''Coastline:''
{{convert|386|km|mi|sp=us}}

===Maritime claims===
''[[Exclusive economic zone]]:''
{{convert|127,772|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}

''Territorial sea:''
{{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}

==Climate and climate change==
{{Further|Climate change in Suriname}}
Suriname has a [[tropical rainforest climate]] and a [[tropical monsoon climate]], with hot humid conditions year-round.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sánchez-Dávila |first1=Gabriel |title=Clasificación climática de Sudamérica |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b74200791dda49958d6d39eddaca74a0 |website=ArcGIS StoryMaps |access-date=6 November 2024 |language=Spanish |date=15 Sep 2022}}</ref>

[[Climate change]] in both [[Climate change in Suriname|Suriname]] and the wider world is leading to hotter temperatures and more [[extreme weather]]. As a fairly poor country, its contributions to global climate change have been limited. Suriname has a large forest cover, the country has been running a [[carbon dioxide removal|carbon negative]] economy since 2014.<ref name="Carbon Negative">{{cite web|date=2020-01-31|title=Suriname's climate promise, for a sustainable future|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1056422|access-date=2020-06-07|website=UN News|language=en}}</ref> Hotter temperatures<ref name="Historical Climate">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Historical Climate Data Suriname|url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/suriname/climate-data-historical|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607150146/https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/suriname/climate-data-historical |archive-date=2020-06-07 |access-date=2020-06-07|website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org|language=en}}</ref> and changes in precipitation trends<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Climate Data Projects Suriname|url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/suriname/climate-data-projections|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607150143/https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/suriname/climate-data-projections |archive-date=2020-06-07 |access-date=2020-06-07|website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org|language=en}}</ref> are predicted because of climate change.

{{Weather box
|collapsed = Yes 
|location = [[Paramaribo]]
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C=33
|Feb record high C=34
|Mar record high C=35
|Apr record high C=37
|May record high C=37
|Jun record high C=36
|Jul record high C=37
|Aug record high C=37
|Sep record high C=36
|Oct record high C=37
|Nov record high C=36
|Dec record high C=36
|year record high C=37
|Jan high C = 30
|Feb high C = 30
|Mar high C = 30
|Apr high C = 31
|May high C = 30
|Jun high C = 31
|Jul high C = 31
|Aug high C = 32
|Sep high C = 33
|Oct high C = 33
|Nov high C = 32
|Dec high C = 30
|year high C = 31
|Jan mean C = 26
|Feb mean C = 26
|Mar mean C = 26
|Apr mean C = 27
|May mean C = 27
|Jun mean C = 27
|Jul mean C = 27
|Aug mean C = 27
|Sep mean C = 28
|Oct mean C = 28
|Nov mean C = 27
|Dec mean C = 26
|year mean C = 27
|Jan low C = 22
|Feb low C = 22
|Mar low C = 22
|Apr low C = 22
|May low C = 23
|Jun low C = 22
|Jul low C = 22
|Aug low C = 23
|Sep low C = 23
|Oct low C = 23
|Nov low C = 23
|Dec low C = 22
|year low C = 22
|Jan record low C=17
|Feb record low C=17
|Mar record low C=17
|Apr record low C=18
|May record low C=19
|Jun record low C=20
|Jul record low C=20
|Aug record low C=15
|Sep record low C=21
|Oct record low C=20
|Nov record low C=21
|Dec record low C=18
|year record low C=15
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 200
|Feb rain mm = 140
|Mar rain mm = 150
|Apr rain mm = 210
|May rain mm = 290
|Jun rain mm = 290
|Jul rain mm = 230
|Aug rain mm = 170
|Sep rain mm = 90
|Oct rain mm = 90
|Nov rain mm = 120
|Dec rain mm = 180
|source 1 = Weatherbase<ref name="WeatherbaseP">{{cite web
|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=52218&refer=&units=metric
|title=Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Paramaribo }}</ref>
|date=April 4, 2014
}}

{{Weather box
|collapsed = Yes 
|location = [[Nieuw Nickerie]]
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 32.5
|Feb record high C = 32.4
|Mar record high C = 32.5
|Apr record high C = 33.2
|May record high C = 34.8
|Jun record high C = 34.0
|Jul record high C = 34.5
|Aug record high C = 35.6
|Sep record high C = 35.4
|Oct record high C = 36.3
|Nov record high C = 34.9
|Dec record high C = 33.8

|Jan high C = 28.9
|Feb high C = 29.0
|Mar high C = 29.2
|Apr high C = 29.5
|May high C = 29.8
|Jun high C = 29.8
|Jul high C = 30.3
|Aug high C = 31.1
|Sep high C = 31.7
|Oct high C = 31.7
|Nov high C = 30.9
|Dec high C = 29.8
|year high C = 30.1
|Jan mean C = 26.5
|Feb mean C = 26.6
|Mar mean C = 26.9
|Apr mean C = 27.2
|May mean C = 27.2
|Jun mean C = 27.1
|Jul mean C = 27.2
|Aug mean C = 27.8
|Sep mean C = 28.3
|Oct mean C = 28.2
|Nov mean C = 27.8
|Dec mean C = 27.0
|year mean C = 27.3
|Jan low C = 23.5
|Feb low C = 23.7
|Mar low C = 24.0
|Apr low C = 24.2
|May low C = 24.2
|Jun low C = 23.9
|Jul low C = 23.7
|Aug low C = 24.0
|Sep low C = 24.2
|Oct low C = 24.0
|Nov low C = 23.9
|Dec low C = 23.7
|year low C = 24.0
|Jan record low C = 18.3
|Feb record low C = 18.2
|Mar record low C = 19.1
|Apr record low C = 19.9
|May record low C = 20.7
|Jun record low C = 20.6
|Jul record low C = 20.9
|Aug record low C = 19.9
|Sep record low C = 20.9
|Oct record low C = 20.3
|Nov record low C = 20.0
|Dec record low C = 20.1
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 191
|Feb rain mm = 114
|Mar rain mm = 111
|Apr rain mm = 191
|May rain mm = 246
|Jun rain mm = 316
|Jul rain mm = 266
|Aug rain mm = 168
|Sep rain mm = 61
|Oct rain mm = 61
|Nov rain mm = 79
|Dec rain mm = 176
|Jan humidity = 82
|Feb humidity = 81
|Mar humidity = 80
|Apr humidity = 80
|May humidity = 82
|Jun humidity = 83
|Jul humidity = 82
|Aug humidity = 80
|Sep humidity = 78
|Oct humidity = 78
|Nov humidity = 79
|Dec humidity = 82
| source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name=DWDNN>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_812020_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Nickerie / Surinam
| publisher = Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
| access-date = 21 June 2016}}
</ref>
}}

==Terrain==
Most of the country is made up of rolling hills, but there is a narrow coastal plain that has swampy terrain.

A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 781&nbsp;km² of tidal flats in Suriname, making it the 34th ranked country in terms of tidal flat area.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=N.J. |last2=Phinn |first2=S.R. |last3=DeWitt |first3=M. |last4=Ferrari |first4=R. |last5=Johnston |first5=R. |last6=Lyons |first6=M.B. |last7=Clinton |first7=N. |last8=Thau |first8=D. |last9=Fuller |first9=R.A. |title=The global distribution and trajectory of tidal flats |journal=Nature |date=2019 |volume=565 |issue=7738 |pages=222–225 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0805-8 |pmid=30568300 |s2cid=256767470 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0805-8|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

'''Elevation extremes'''

''Lowest point:'' Unnamed location in the coastal plain - {{convert|2|m|ft|sp=us}} below Sea Level.
<br>''Highest point:'' [[Juliana Top]] - {{convert|1230|m|ft|sp=us}}

===Natural resources===
Timber, hydropower, fish, forests, hydroelectric potential, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite and gold. Small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum and iron ore. It also has sizeable oil.

===Water===
The country has one large [[reservoir]], the [[Brokopondo Reservoir]]. Several rivers run through it, including the [[Suriname River]], [[Nickerie River]] and [[Maroni River|Maroni]] or Marowijne River.

===Land use===
(2018 Estimates)

''Arable land:''
0.4%
<br>''Permanent crops:''
0.0%
<br>''permanent pasture:''
0.1%
<br>''forest:''
94.6%
<br>''Other:''
4.9%

====Irrigated land====
{{convert|510|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} (2003)

====Natural hazards====
Tropical Showers, no hurricanes.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

==Environment==
[[File:Share Of Forest Area In Total Land Area, Top Countries (2021).svg|thumb|270px|Share of forest area in total land area, top countries (2021). Suriname has the highest percentage of forest cover in the world.]]

=== Current issues ===
[[Deforestation]] is a real problem as timber is cut for export. There is also a lot of pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities.

=== Climate change ===
{{Excerpt|Climate change in Suriname}}

===International agreements===
Suriname has agreed to the following agreements:
[[Biodiversity]], [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|Climate Change]], [[Endangered Species]], [[Kyoto Protocol]], [[Law of the Sea]], [[Marine Dumping--London Convention]], [[Marine Dumping--London Protocol]], [[Ozone Layer Protection]], [[Paris Accords]] [[Ship Pollution]], [[Tropical Timber 94]], [[Wetlands]], [[Whaling]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/suriname/#environment | title=Suriname | date=22 May 2024 }}</ref>

== Extreme points ==

* Northernmost point – [[Oostelijke Polders]]
* Southernmost point – Border with [[Brazil]] [[Coeroeni]]
* Westernmost point – Border with [[Guyana]], [[Sipaliwini District]]
* Easternmost point – Border with [[French Guiana]], [[Sipaliwini District]]
* Highest point – [[Julianatop]]: 1,230 m
* Lowest point – unnamed location on the coastal plain: -2 m

==See also==
*[[Tigri Area]], an unresolved territorial dispute involving Guyana and Suriname.
*[[Borders of Suriname]], consisting of land borders with three countries: [[Guyana]], [[Brazil]], and [[France]]  (via [[French Guiana]])

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.wdl.org/en/item/1108 "Guyana, or, the Kingdom of the Amazons"] is a map from the 1600s of what is now known as Suriname

{{Suriname topics}}
{{Geography of South America}}
{{South America topic|Climate of}}

[[Category:Geography of Suriname| ]]