Georgetown, Guyana

Georgetown, estimated population 250,000 (1998), is the capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is situated on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and is nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.' Georgetown is located at 6°50' North, 58°12' West (6.8333, -58.2).

Points of Interest

Georgetown is laid out in a N-S, E-W grid, interlaced with canals built by the Dutch that provide drainage to a city that lies 13 feet below high-tide level. A long sea wall helps prevent flooding. The city has an abundance of tree-lined streets and avenues and contains many colonial buildings and markets.

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Most of the main buildings are centred around the western region of the town. Around the western-central area is Independence Square and Promenade Garden, the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, the National Library (built by Andrew Carnegie), the Bank of Guyana, the Museum of Guyana and State House (built 1852) where the President resides. Also in this St. George's Anglican Cathedral. It was built out of wood to designs by Sir Arthur Bromfield and was completed in 1899. It is 44 meters high and is generally reagrded as the tallest wooden building in thw world. Inside is a chandalir, a gift from Queen Victoria.

Related Topics:
Andrew Carnegie - 1852 - Arthur Bromfield - 1899 - Queen Victoria

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To the south of this region is where the neo-Gothic Town Hall (1889) is to be found, as well as Victoria Law Courts (1887), Parliament Building, the large Staebroek Market (1792) containing the prominent cast-iron clock tower that dominates the city sky line, the Roman Catholic Cathedral, City Engineer House, the Magistrate's Court, St. Andrew's Presbytery (18th century) and Independence Arch.

Related Topics:
Gothic - 1889 - 1887 - 1792 - Roman Catholic - Cathedral

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The northern area of the city near the Atlantic coast contains Fort William Frederick, a park and the Umana Yama, a conical thatched building built by Wai Wai Amerindians using traditional techniques. Itw as built for the 1972 conference for non-aligned nations.

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There is also a mosque in Georgetown.

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Georgetown is the seat of the University of Guyana.

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The Tiger Bay and Alboystown region are considered to be dangerous.

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