5 facts
French Guiana was once home to a notorious French penal colony, including the infamous Devil's Island. Established in 1852, it was known for harsh conditions and high mortality rates, housing prisoners until its closure in 1953.
As an overseas department of France, French Guiana is an outermost region of the European Union. This means it uses the Euro and adheres to EU laws, making it the only territory in South America where the Euro is the official currency.
Over 90% of French Guiana is covered by the Amazon rainforest, making it one of Earth's most ecologically rich and least disturbed natural areas. This vast wilderness harbors incredible biodiversity, from jaguars to countless bird species.
Despite being located in South America, French Guiana is an integral part of France and, by land area, is the largest region of the French Republic. It is significantly larger than any region in metropolitan France.
The Guiana Space Centre near Kourou is the primary launch site for the European Space Agency (ESA). Its equatorial location offers a significant advantage for rocket launches, allowing payloads to gain extra speed from the Earth's rotation.