Guianas, the

Guianas, the

Region, northern South America. The region is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, on the east and south by Brazil, and on the west by Venezuela, and covers an area of about 181,000 sq mi (468,800 sq km). It consists of Guyana (formerly British Guiana), Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana), and French Guiana; most of it is covered by dense forests containing valuable timber. Settlements are largely confined to the coast and river valleys. The earliest known inhabitants were the Surinam Indians. Its coast was sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1498, and the area was explored by the Spanish in the early 16th century. The Dutch founded settlements c. 1580 and the French and English in the early 17th century.