Physical setting
Coastal country
geographic context
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Geography & Environment
Geography & Environment in Suriname
ParamariboLocal time
Geography & Environment
Suriname rises from a low Atlantic coastal plain through interior savanna belts to the forested uplands of the Guiana Shield.
Relief anchor
Guiana Shield uplands
verified relief reference
Suriname at a Glance
Suriname rises from a low Atlantic coastal plain through interior savanna belts to the forested uplands of the Guiana Shield.
Physical geography
terrain · drainage · setting
The north is low and flat, while the interior rises into older Guiana Shield plateaus and uplands covered largely by tropical forest.
Regional frameSouth America
SettingCoastal country
Relief focusJulianatop
Climate pattern
Suriname has a humid tropical climate strongly influenced by the seasonal movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
Water and landform context
Large north-flowing rivers drain the forested interior toward the Atlantic across the low coastal plain and estuarine zone.
Terrain, Climate and Environment
Three connected views of Suriname's physical setting.
Relief and terrain
PhysicalThe north is low and flat, while the interior rises into older Guiana Shield plateaus and uplands covered largely by tropical forest.
Climate pattern
ClimateSuriname has a humid tropical climate strongly influenced by the seasonal movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
Environmental setting
EnvironmentLarge north-flowing rivers drain the forested interior toward the Atlantic across the low coastal plain and estuarine zone.
Understand the landscape
What Suriname's geographic profile is telling you
The transition from Guiana Shield uplands to a low coastal plain links Suriname heavy tropical rainfall with broad river systems and wetlands.
Detailed Geography & Environment Data
| Measure | Reference | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Physical setting | Coastal country | Geographic classification |
| Relief anchor | Guiana Shield uplands | Named physical feature |
| Climate | Suriname has a humid tropical climate strongly influenced by the seasonal movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. | |
| Terrain | The north is low and flat, while the interior rises into older Guiana Shield plateaus and uplands covered largely by tropical forest. | |
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of terrain does Suriname have?
The north is low and flat, while the interior rises into older Guiana Shield plateaus and uplands covered largely by tropical forest.
What is Suriname's climate like?
Suriname has a humid tropical climate strongly influenced by the seasonal movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
What physical feature helps explain the landscape?
Large north-flowing rivers drain the forested interior toward the Atlantic across the low coastal plain and estuarine zone.
Sources & methodology
The physical-geography summary for Geography & Environment in Suriname is based on Government of Suriname together with Government of Suriname, with the Guiana Shield uplands relief description checked against the same evidence used for climate and drainage context. Only stable, supportable claims are retained.
View sources used for this page
Government of Suriname
Supports Geography & Environment in Suriname's physical-geography evidence used in this page.