苏利南(Suriname)

正式名称苏利南共和国（Republic of Suriname）

旧称荷属圭亚那（Dutch Guiana）

面积163,820平方公里。人口约434,000（2001）。首都︰巴拉马利波。人口主要由东印度人、克里奥尔人和爪哇人组成，也有少数黑人、华人、南美洲印第安人和荷兰人。语言︰荷兰语（官方语）、英语、斯拉南语（一种克里奥尔语）和印地语。宗教︰基督教、印度教和伊斯兰教。货币︰苏利南盾（Sf）。该国有一狭窄低平的沿海平原、内陆稀树草原区、森林覆盖的高原区及山脉。包括科兰太因河、马罗尼河苏利南河在内的七条主要河流均注入大西洋。铝土矿的开采、铝的生产和农业占经济的大部分。出口品有稻米、香蕉、甘蔗、柑和虾。政府形式为共和国，一院制。国家元首暨政府首脑是总统。

在欧洲人前去定居以前，苏利南居住着各种原住民。1593年西班牙的探险家们宣称拥有所有权，但荷兰人於1602年到那里定居，接着是1651年英国人到来。1667年苏利南割让给荷兰，1682年荷属西印度公司引进了咖啡和甘蔗种植园，并带来非洲的奴隶来种植它们。1863年废除了奴隶制，於是从中国、爪哇和印度带来契约劳工从事耕种，加入混杂的人口。除了穿插短期的英国统治（1799～1802, 1804～1815）外，苏利南一直是荷兰的殖民地。1954年获得内部事务的自治权，1975年获得独立。1980年的军事政变结束了文职控制，直到1987年全体选民批准了一部新宪法。1990年政变後恢复了军人统治。1992年举行选举，接着又开始了民主政府。

English version：

Suriname

formerlyDutch GuianaNation, northern central coast of South America. Area: 63,251 sq mi (163,820 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 424,000. Capital: Paramaribo. The population includes East Indians, Creoles, Javanese, and smaller groups of blacks, Chinese, South American Indians, and Dutch. Languages: Dutch (official), English, Sranan (a creole), Hindi. Religions: Christianity; also Hinduism and Islam. Currency: Suriname guilder. The country has a low, narrow coastal plain, with inland savannas, a forested plateau region, and mountain ranges. Seven major rivers, including the Courantyne, Maroni, and Suriname, cross it to empty into the Atlantic. Bauxite mining, aluminum production, and agriculture are the largest sectors of the economy. Exports include rice, bananas, sugarcane, oranges, and shrimp. It is a republic with one legislative house; its head of state and government is the president. Suriname was inhabited by various native peoples prior to European settlement. Spanish explorers claimed it in 1593, but the Dutch began to settle there in 1602, followed by the English in 1651. It was ceded to the Dutch in 1667, and in 1682 the Dutch West India Co. introduced coffee and sugarcane plantations and African slaves to cultivate them. Slavery was abolished in 1863, and indentured servants were brought from China, Java, and India to work the plantations, adding to the population mix. Except for brief interludes of British rule (1799-1802, 1804-15), it remained a Dutch colony. It gained internal autonomy in 1954 and independence in 1975. A military coup in 1980 ended civilian control until the electorate approved a new constitution in 1987. Military control resumed after a coup in 1990. Elections were held in 1992, followed by a resumption of democratic government.