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Table of Contents
The Republic of Suriname is a country located on the northeastern Atlantic coast of the continent of South America. It is known as the smallest sovereign state in South America. The capital and largest city in Suriname is Paramaribo.
See the fact file below for more information on the Suriname or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Suriname worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
GENERAL FACTS
- The motto of Suriname is “Justice – Piety – Trust” (Justitia — Pietas — Fides).
- The design of Suriname’s national flag features five horizontal bands of green, white, red, white, and green, with a yellow, five-pointed star as its centerpiece.
- It was adopted on November 25, 1975, upon Suriname’s independence.
- The national flag of Suriname was designed by Jack Pinas.
GEOGRAPHY
- Suriname is known as the smallest country in South America. It has an area of 163,821 km².
- The country of Suriname is located on the Guiana Shield, one of the three cratons (a stable part of a continental lithosphere) of the South American Plate.
- Suriname is divided into two geographical regions:
- Northern Suriname, which consists of a lowland coastal area – most of the Surinamese populace lives here.
- Southern Suriname, which consists of tropical rainforest and savanna near the border of Brazil. This region covers 80% of Suriname’s land surface.
- Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, and Brazil to the south.
ETYMOLOGY
- The name Suriname might come from the indigenous people, called Surinen, who inhabited the country before Europeans arrived.
- It could also be derived from the name “Surryham”, the name given to the Suriname River by Lord Willoughby. Upon establishing a colony under King Charles, he named this river in honor of the Earl of Surrey.
- The British settlers spelled the name of the Suriname River as “Surinam” instead of “Surryham”.
- The country changed its name from Surinam to Suriname in January 1978.
DEMOGRAPHICS
- The official language of Suriname is Dutch.
- There are eight indigenous languages in Suriname: Akurio, Arawak-Lokono, Carib-Kari’nja, Sikaiana-Kashuyana, Tiro-Tiriyó, Waiwai, Warao, and Wayana.
- There are also fourteen other languages used in Suriname: Sranan Tongo, Sarnami Hindustani, Ndyuka, Saramaccan, Matawai, Aluku, Paramaccan, Kwinti, Javanese, Chinese, English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish.
- According to an 2018 estimate, Suriname has a population of 575,990.
- Suriname is a diverse country. In fact, there is no ethnic group that constitutes even half of its population. The ethnic groups in Suriname are Indian, Maroon-Bushinengue, Creole-Mulatto, Javanese, Mixed races, Chinese, and European.
- Christianity is the leading religion in Suriname, covering 48.4% of the populace. Other religions in Suriname are Hindu, Muslim, Winti, and Kejawèn.
HISTORY
- Surinamese land was inhabited as early as 5,000 years ago.
- The largest and first tribe that inhabited ancient Suriname was the Arawak tribe.
- The Carib people also inhabited the land, conquering it from the Arawak.
- Other smaller groups inhabited the inland rainforest, including the Akurio, Trió, Warrau, and Wayana.
- The colonial period in Suriname started in the 16th century upon the arrival of Europeans.
- By the late 17th century, the Dutch reigned over Suriname. This was known as the Dutch Colonial Period.
- During this period, Suriname was known for producing profuse amounts of sugar through plantation economy and slave labor.
- Suriname was then occupied by the British in 1799, but returned to the Dutch in 1816.
- Suriname was included as one of the constituent countries of the Kingdom of Netherlands in 1954.
- Suriname became independent from the Kingdom of Netherlands on November 25, 1975.
- However, Suriname has maintained comonomic, diplomatic, and cultural ties with the Dutch.
CULTURE
- Suriname has a diverse culture with strong Asian, African, and European influences.
- Suriname is known for its Kaseko music, a fusion of several popular folk styles from Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
- Creole Kawina music is where Kaseko emerged from. Creole Kawina music has been played in Paramaribo since 1900.
- Sutinamese cuisine is a combination of Indian, African, Javanese, Chinese, Jewish, Portuguese, and Amerindian cuisines.
- Surinamese cuisine features dishes known as roti, nasi, goreng, bami, pom, snesi foroe, moksi meti, and losi foroe.
- Staple foods in Surinamese cuisine include rice, tayer and cassava, and roti.
- The major sports in Suriname are football, basketball, and volleyball.
- The national governing body for Surinamese Sports is the Suriname Olympic Committee.
LANDMARKS
- Blanche Marie Falls — found in Sipaliwini, on the Nickerie River, a rapid waterfall that is over 100 meters long.
- Devil’s Egg — found in Sipaliwini, a giant rock balancing itself on the top of a granite spire.
- Historical Center of Paramaribo — located in the Paramaribo District, a Dutch colonial town in well-preserved condition.
- Voltzberg — located in Sipaliwini, a granite dome that rises 150 meters above the surrounding areas – petroglyphs are found on the creek of Voltzberg.
- Suriname Presidential Palace — located in Paramaribo district, a palace built in 1730 using Neoclassic style..
Suriname Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Suriname across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Marshall Plan worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Republic of Suriname which is a country located on the northeastern Atlantic coast of the continent of South America. It is known as the smallest sovereign state in South America. The capital and largest city in Suriname is Paramaribo.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Suriname Facts
- Map Study
- About Suriname
- Colonial to Independent
- Sure About Suriname
- Culture Blanks
- Landmark Identification
- Language Checklist
- Song About Suriname
- Favorite Facts
- A Suriname Safari
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Link will appear as Suriname Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 5, 2020
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.