2022 Travel the World - Week 3

I started a 50-week series in 2019 that I called Travel the World. Each week of the series I visited a randomly-selected country, sharing bits of information about that country. I then chose one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. As I explored those 50 countries in 2019, I knew I would continue on until I've visited every one of the 195 countries in the world. By the end of 2021, I'd virtually traveled to 145 countries and plan to complete my journey to all 195 countries by visiting the last 50 this year. 

This week's country is...

Suriname

Suriname is the smallest country in South America both in terms of area and population.

It is bordered by Brazil to the south, Guyana to the west French Guiana to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the north.

The area occupied by Suriname is slightly larger than the state of Georgia.

Suriname is also spelled as “Surinam”. Officially, the spelling “Surinam” was changed to “Suriname” in January 1978.

Suriname has a coastline that stretches 239 miles long.

Suriname is the only nation in the world to be outside Europe and where Dutch is also the official language.

Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on the banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 240,000 people, almost half of Suriname’s population.

Almost 45% of the country’s population is between the age group 25-54 years.

Suriname is one of the poorest countries in the world. More than 70% of the country’s population is below the poverty line. This means that most of the country’s inhabitants have difficulty affording basic necessities such as shelter, food, and water. 

Large parts of the country’s land are covered by pristine tropical rainforests hosting a great diversity of flora and fauna.

About nine-tenths of the country is covered with heterogeneous forest that contains more than 1000 species of trees.

Suriname is famous for its water lilies and orchids.

There are close to 350 species of fish in the coastal and inland waters of the country.

The tapir is the largest land mammal in Suriname.

Common predators that can be found in Suriname are tigers, jaguars, cougars, raccoons, ocelots, piranhas and over 65 species of bats. Additionally you can also find, the capuchin monkey, the howler monkey, the water hog, the agouti and the guinea pig.

Suriname is home to one of the world’s largest nesting population of leatherback sea turtles. The females return to Galibi Nature Reserve every year to the same nesting site.

During a 2013 expedition to Suriname, biologists discovered 60 new species including six frogs, one snake and eleven fish.

One of the strangest creatures found on its land is called the Surinam toad. This amphibian has a very flat shape and is disguised to resemble an old leaf or a flat rock. Each of its fingers has a small, star-shaped tip which is why it’s also called the star-fingered toad. It has very tiny eyes and a wide mouth with no teeth or tongue, so it eats by using its large mouth to swallow prey whole.

While all other countries in South America have right-hand driving, Suriname and Guyana are the only two countries on the continent with left-hand driving.

Suriname grows rice, bananas, and palm kernels; they also rear cattle, catch fish and produce lumber.

Its industry consists of bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, food processing, and oil.

The main exports consist of crude oil, alumina, rice, lumber, fish, and shrimp.

Chicken with rice is the national dish of Suriname.

There are 55 airports in Suriname; only 6 of them have paved surfaces.

On average, there are 3 cars per family in Suriname.

An interesting fact about Suriname is that its people are known for their laid-back and peaceful demeanor. They don’t often argue, raise their voices, or act disrespectfully. Good manners and respectfulness are very important in the Surinamese culture. A common saying in the country translates to “Keep cool; don’t worry.” The people of Suriname maintain a relaxed, tolerant, and friendly atmosphere that often helps visitors feel safe and welcome in the country.

Suriname has only one cinema. It is located in the capital city.

The Surinamese celebrate Holi, Christmas, Javanese Arrival Day, Indian Arrival Day, Day of the Maroons, Diwali, Eid ul-Fitr, Good Friday, and many more secular and religious festivals and ceremonies.

Every April, Surinamese people from all ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and religions join a 4-day walking event known as Wandelmars. During this evident, Surinamese people dress in their respective traditional costumes and dance through the streets in the capital city of Paramaribo. This lively event is a great way for the Surinamese people to celebrate diversity and come together as a country.

Piracy continues to be an issue in the waters off Suriname.

Anyone under the age of 30 who wishes to get married in Suriname can only do so with written permission from their parents.

The usual school uniform in Suriname is jeans worn with a short-sleeved button-down shirt. Green shirts, often in a plaid print, are worn by elementary students. Middle school students, meanwhile, wear a plain blue button-down. This is an easy way to distinguish what level of schooling a child is in.

My inspiration for this week's card is based on this fact about Suriname... Suriname receives up to 300,000 tourists each year, which is over half of the country's entire population. The combination of tropical rainforests, quaint villages, and roaring rivers are just some of the things that attract tourists.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: MFT Adventure Is Calling stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Paper: Neenah 110# Solar White and SU Misty Moonlight CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: MFT Stitched Rectangle, Paper Roses Stitched Circles, and Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics Rectangles

Embellishments: Heart-shaped Brad from an unknown vendor