[gahy-an-uh, -ah-nuh] 
| an independent republic on the NE coast of South America: a former British protectorate; gained independence 1966; member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 706,116; 82,978 sq. mi. (214,913 sq. km). Capital: Georgetown. |
Guy·a·na (gī-ān'ə, -ä'nə)  (click for larger image in new window) A country of northeast South America on the Atlantic Ocean. The region of Guiana was settled in the early 17th century by the Dutch, who competed with the British and the French over the next two centuries for control of the coast. Awarded the western portion of Guiana in 1815, Great Britain established (1831) the colony of British Guiana, which gained its independence as Guyana in 1966. Georgetown is the capital and the largest city. Population: 769,000. Guy'a·nese' (-nēz', -nēs') adj. & n. |
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