Herrmann, DL2NUD and Wolf DL4WO will be active from Suriname 26 November - 8 December 2014 as PZ5EME.
They will operate via EME.
Operating shedule:
26 Nov 2014 144
27 Nov 2014 144
28 Nov 2014 144
29 Nov 2014 1296
30 Nov 2014 432
01 Dec 2014 2320 for some time and after 3400
02 Dec 2014 144
QSL via DL4WO.
Suriname
Suriname is located in Northern South America and is bordered to the east by the French Guiana, Guyana to the west and to the south, it is bordered by Brazil. The country gets its name from its earlier inhabitants known as the Surinen Indians.
Suriname is home to approximately 573,311 people. The official language spoken in this nation is Dutch with English also being widely spoken. Other languages to the region include: Sranang Tongo , Caribbean Hindustani, and Javanese.
The country experiences a tropical climate with moderate trade winds. Normally, there are two dry seasons that are experienced in Suriname. They are experienced from the month of February to March and August to November. The rainy seasons, which are also two, are normally experienced in the months of December through to January and April through to August. November is normally the hottest month in the region.
Geographical aspects
Suriname covers a total area of approximately 123,820 square kilometers (63,250 sq mi) with the land mass covering an area of 156,000 square kilometers (60,000 sq mi) and the water mass covering an area of 7,829 square kilometers(3,020 sq mi).
Suriname lies on the northeast coast of South America, with Guyana to the west, French Guiana to the east, and Brazil to the south. It is about one-tenth larger than Michigan. The principal rivers are the Corantijn on the Guyana border, the Marowijne in the east, and the Suriname, on which the capital city of Paramaribo is situated.
The Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains and the Bakhuys Mountains are the two main mountain ranges in the country, with Julianatop being the highest mountain in the country.
Most of the population lives in the northern, lowland coastal area while the southern part, which comprises of a tropical rainforest is sparsely populated
Climate
Suriname experiences a rather hot and wet tropical climate thanks to its proximity to the equator. It lays 2-5 degrees north of the equator and hs an average temperature ranging from 29-34 degrees Celsius. It also has n average relative humidity of between 80-90%
The country boasts of two wet seasons that occur in the months of April to August and from the months of November to February. It also has two dry seasons that occur in the months of August to November and the months of February to April.
Religion
Different religions are practiced inclusive of; Hindu, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Muslim and indigenous beliefs.
Culture
Different cultures are present in Suriname thanks to the diversity in its people. Whereas vast majorities of its people are descendants of the African slaves, other ethnic groups to the region include; the Hinustani, Creole, Javanese, "Maroons", Chinese, whites and Amerindian.
The musical aspect of the Surinamese is an interesting mix of indigenous South American rhythms and international European and North American trends. The kaseko, which is derived from the expression "casser le corps" (rest body) is what Suriname is most known for in terms of music. This music is a fusion of a number of styles and folklore from Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
The cuisine to the region is quite extensive, with major influences including Indian, Javanese, Chinese, West African, Dutch, and Portuguese dishes. The most common dishes served are cassava, roti(an Indian flatbread), and spicy peppers.
Nature
Approximately one third of the country was declared as national reserves. This means that there are plenty of natural lands with a huge variety of flora and fauna to explore. Nestled between the rainforests and the ocean are the Mangrove forests, which are home to a huge number of birds, reptiles, monkeys and a few jaguars.
Some of the more common natural reserves include:
- The Central Suriname Nature reserve which home to the Raleigh waterfalls and mount Voltzberg, some of the wildest places on earth.
- Raleighvallen Nature Reserve which is home to a large number of monkey and bird life.
- Brownsberg which is home to a number of creeks and beautiful waterfall, with a number of bird, animal and plant life calling this reserve home.
Interesting facts about Suriname:
- Hindustani is the country’s largest ethnic group. It takes up approximately 37% of the total population. This group came to be thanks to a large scale immigration in the 19th century from Asia to this part of South America. Other groups include: the Javanese, Creole and Maroons.
- Owing to the country’s diverse population, different languages are spoken in different parts of the country, although Dutch is the official language spoken throughout the country.
- A vast majority of the population lives in the capital city, Paramaribo, located on the banks of the Suriname River.
- In this part of South America, the historic center of Paramaribo is considered to be one of the most culturally interesting areas from the colonial period in the 17th and 18th centuries still to be seen here.
- Pom is one of the most distinctive foods to be enjoyed while in the country. It showcases the different cultures to the region, with Creole and Jewish origins. The dish largely contains meat and is perceived as a dish for a special occasion in Surinamese culture. As such, it is normally reserved for birthday parties or similar occasions.
- Regardless of its independence, Suriname still maintains strong links with the Netherlands.
- A big chunk of the country is made up of rainforest, resulting into huge chunks of the country being designated as nature reserves.
- Bauxite is the country’s main export. It is an aluminum ore that is exported to a number of major countries across the world. Other exports include: gold, crude oil, lumber, rice, bananas, shrimp and fish.
- Irrespective of the diversity in population with regards to religious beliefs, very little conflict is present in the religious sector. As such, it comes as no surprise that a Synagogue can be spotted adjacent to a mosque.
- With regards to its population and geographical size, Suriname is the smallest country in South America.