Cayenne

Capital and chief port of the overseas département of French Guiana in South America; situated on Cayenne Island on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the River Cayenne; population (1999 est) 50,600. The main occupation is fishing, of which fresh and processed shrimp constitute nearly 75% of total exports by value. Rum, pineapples, bananas, spices, hides, hardwoods, and cayenne pepper – a main constituent of hot curries – are also exported. The country is heavily dependent on imports, many of which pass through the port.

Cayenne was founded in 1664 by the French, and used as a penal settlement 1854–1953. Only a few colonial buildings remain as many were destroyed by fire in 1888. A notable surviving colonial building is the residence of the prefect, built by Jesuit fathers in 1890. A thermal power station provides electricity to the area. There are some unexploited reserves of bauxite in the surrounding region. There is an international airport 16 km/10 mi south of Cayenne.