Achi news desk-
A small country is one of the most empty in the world and is almost entirely made up of rainforest.
Suriname is the smallest South American country in terms of population and size. It is on the Atlantic Ocean and has Dutch as its official language.
It has a population density of ten people per square mile, making it one of the most empty in the world. Half of its population lives in its coastal capital, Paramaribo.
The country has been described by Lonely Planet as “a warm, dense confluence of rivers that beats with the vibrant rhythm of ethnic diversity” due to its colonial past.
The various indigenous peoples of Suriname were colonized by the Dutch at the end of the 17th Century. It was a profitable source of sugar, which was grown and processed by African and Asian slaves. The country gained its independence in 1975.
The capital includes Dutch buildings such as Fort Zeelandia, Independence Square, the Presidential Palace, Fort Nieuw Amsterdam, and Saint Peter and Paul Basilica.
The main mode of transport is along the rivers through the rainforest, with towns and villages along the waterways and boat trips available from the capital.
There are a number of nature reserves to explore as a visitor including Brownsberg, Galibi, Bigi Pan, Peperpot, and Coppename.
There is also a lot of wildlife to be seen in Suriname with river dolphins, turtles, monkeys, macaws, crocodiles and anacondas to be seen throughout the coast and jungles of the country.
Flights from the UK to Suriname depart from Birmingham, Bristol, London, Manchester and Leeds, all of which include at least one stopover.
There are many places to stay in Paramaribo such as hotels, bed and breakfasts, holiday accommodation and hostels.
Other countries with a similarly dispersed population are Mongolia, Australia, Iceland, Libya, Canada and Mauritania.
Greenland is the least populated country in the world, with 0.36 people per square mile. It is closely followed by the Falkland Islands.
