| "> | | | | (37%), followed by Creole (31%) and Javanese (15%). |
| Welcome to Suriname -- A Tropical Paradise | | | | Dutch is the national language. In the meantime, the |
| World-famous Swimmers | | | | nation has many non-official languages: Sranang |
| Did you know- In September 1988, Anthony Conrad | | | | Tongo, English, and Hindustani, among others. |
| Nesty, a black athlete, pulled off a major shock when | | | | Diplomatic Relations |
| he became Olympic champ. At the 1988 Seoul | | | | Did you know-From the 1990s on, this Dutch-speaking |
| Olympics, Suriname's swimmer Nesty won one of the | | | | nation, more than twice the size of Maine, maintains |
| most memorable finals in Olympic history when he | | | | close ties with the United States of America, Brazil, |
| defeated Matt Biondi (USA) in the men's 100m butterfly | | | | India, Indonesia and the Netherlands, among others |
| final. Until 1984 he was a unknown swimmer in Latin | | | | countries. Prior to 1990, Suriname had difficult relations |
| America. However, Nesty's fledgling career received a | | | | with Washington and Holland. |
| big boost in the mid-1980s when he studied at the | | | | Eco-tourism |
| Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, America. From | | | | Did you know- Nature-based tourism is a new source |
| then onwards, he directed almost all of his energy to | | | | of income since the 2000s. Thanks to its peaceful |
| become Olympic champion. Despite he won a gold | | | | atmosphere, one of Latin America's most stable |
| medal at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, | | | | countries, and unique landscapes, from waterfalls, |
| USA, Nesty was not considered a contender for a | | | | rivers, lakes and exotic beaches to picturesque towns, |
| medal in the 100 metres butterfly at the 1988 Seoul | | | | Suriname has become one of Western Hemisphere's |
| Games. Twenty years on, by 2008, the Surinamese | | | | best adventure travel destinations. For example, the |
| Olympic Committee honored his achievement by | | | | Central Suriname Nature Reserve, the nation's most |
| nominating his to carry the national flag at the opening | | | | famous natural wonder, is a perfect place for |
| ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Without a doubt, | | | | ecotourism, where there are abundant tropical |
| Anthony Conrad Nesty is the best male swimmer | | | | vegetation and rare plants.Meanwhile, it is home to |
| ever produced by Latin America, ahead of Felipe | | | | water birds, jaguars, toucans, primates, tree frogs, and |
| Muñoz (Mexico), Rafael Vidal (Venezuela), | | | | a number of types of butterflies. Thousands of |
| Ricardo Prado (Brazil) and Jorge Delgado Panchana | | | | foreigners, particularly from the Netherlands and Brazil, |
| (Ecuador). | | | | visit the Nature Reserve each year to see wild |
| Geography | | | | animals and tropical orchids. Since 2000, it is a World |
| Did you know- Unique among countries in the world, | | | | Heritage Site. |
| Suriname is located on Caribbean coast of South | | | | Population |
| America, between Guyana on the west, Brazil on the | | | | Did you know- The Dutch-speaking nation is home to |
| south, French Guiana on the east, and the Atlantic | | | | at least 470,000 people. Curiously, Suriname is the sixth |
| Ocean on the north. With a total area of nearly 63,000 | | | | most sparsely populated country in the world, after |
| square miles (163,820 km2), Suriname is South | | | | Mongolia, Namibia, Australia, Mauritania and Botswana. |
| America's smallest nation. More than 90 percent of | | | | UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Suriname's territory is covered by rainforests, highest | | | | Did you know- Apart from the Central Suriname |
| of the world's developing countries. | | | | Nature Reserve, this Dutch-speaking country boasts |
| Paramaribo | | | | another UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Historic |
| Did you know -Paramaribo is the capital and ranks as | | | | Inner City of Paramaribo. Since then it has become |
| the country's largest city. In addition, it is Suriname's | | | | one of the nation's greatest tourist attractions. It is a |
| chief commercial, cultural, and industrial center. The | | | | UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002 |
| capital city was founded in 1640. Paramaribo is home | | | | United Nations |
| to about 243,000 people. | | | | Did you know- On December 4, 1975, after the |
| Independence | | | | country proclaimed its independence from Holland, |
| Did you know- Suriname, former Dutch Guiana, gained | | | | Suriname became member of the United Nations. At |
| independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands on | | | | the same time, it joined the Organization of American |
| November 25, 1975. | | | | States (OAS). The Dutch-speaking country also |
| Multiracial Society | | | | belongs to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and |
| Did you know- The country is a multiracial society. The | | | | the World Bank. |
| Hindustani make up the nation's largest ethnic group | | | | |