The island city of Cayenne is the capital of the French overseas region of French Guiana. The city lends its name to cayenne pepper, a spicy condiment found on the island in abundance.

First discovered by Spanish explorers, the region was subsequently invaded by the French, who formed the city in 1664. It was later colonized by the Dutch, British and Brazilians before finally being returned to France.

Cayenne has a population of approximately 66,000 (1999 census). The city is co-habited by people of various backgrounds, namely, Creoles, Haitians, Brazilians, Europeans, Hmong and Asians, making Cayenne is ethnically diverse.

The region has a tropical climate, experiencing hot and rainy weather. It is an important industrial centre for the shrimp industry and also exports timber, rum, essence of rosewood, and gold.

Kourou, the second-largest city in French Guiana, is a charming modern town surrounding a more traditional colonial core.

The region experiences a typically tropical climate with dry su...