Monuments that are popular among tourists coming to French Guiana mostly come from the period when it was a French penal colony. There are also several places where you can spot wildlife. Among the interesting attractions, it is definitely worth mentioning the cosmodrome located here, from which rockets launch into space.
French Guiana is a French dependent territory (overseas department), located in the north-eastern part of South America, on the Atlantic Ocean. The area borders Suriname to the west and Brazil to the south and southeast.
Guiana Space Centre, Karou, French Guiada
Guiana Space Centre: French-European spaceport located near Kourou.
In 1964, the French government chose French Guiana among 14 locations as the site for the construction of the spaceport. Construction of the facility began a year later. The European Spaceport covers an area of 750 km². It is located north of the city of Kourou.
Kourou is located approximately 500 km north of the equator, at a latitude of 5°11′. At this width, the Earth’s rotation gives the rockets an additional speed of almost 460 m/s. Additionally, placing satellites in the desired orbit is usually easier when the launch takes place near the equator. Other advantages of the location include low population density and no risk of cyclones and earthquakes.
Guiana Space Centre, Karou, French Guiada
The ground infrastructure includes launchers (ELV, ELA-2, ELA-3, ELS), satellite preparation rooms, flight control rooms and a solid fuel plant. Fire protection is provided by the fire department subordinated to the Paris brigade. The base is secured by the forces of the French National Gendarmerie and the Foreign Legion.
On February 13, 2012, the first Vega rocket was launched from CSG, carrying 9 satellites into orbit, including PW-Sat, the first Polish artificial satellite, built by specialists from the Warsaw University of Technology and the Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Plage des Hattes
Plage Les Hattes – This long stretch of beach is an important breeding ground for giant leatherback turtles. Females arrive on the shore from April to July, and the young appear between July and September, during which time they migrate along the beach to the sea.
Devil’s Island – French Penal Colony
Îles du Salut – three small islands 11 km off the coast of French Guiana. On one of them – Devil’s Island – from 1852 to 1953 there was a French penal colony. It is one of the most important monuments of French Guiana.
Ilet la Mére Island
It’s worth choosing also to the Ilet la Mére Island, located approximately 20 km from Cayenne. It’s worth going there for the whole day. There we will see the ruins of a prison complex from the 19th century. Currently, the island is inhabited by small, friendly sage monkeys.
The Market in Cayenne
At the Market in Cayenne you can buy local fruits and vegetables and taste local delicacies, but prices vary and are not necessarily low.
French Guiada is one of the few places in South America that belongs to the European Union. It is a very interesting travel destination, both in terms of wildlife and the Space Center provides amazing experiences.
