I.

Introduction

French Guiana, overseas administrative district (département) of France, situated on the north-eastern coast of South America. It is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the east and south by Brazil, and on the west by Suriname. Among other offshore islands it includes the Îles du Salut, or Safety Islands, of which Devil's Island is the best known. French Guiana is the oldest of the overseas possessions of France, the only French territory on the mainland of the Americas, and the last remaining colony in South America. It has an area of 91,000 sq km (35,135 sq mi). The capital, chief town, and main port is Cayenne, which has a population of 56,000 (2003 estimate).