A narrow coastal strip fronts the Atlantic Ocean coastline of French Guiana; to the south, the land is literally an unsettled wilderness, covered by a dense jungle and parts of the
Amazon rain forest, and dissected by dozens and dozens of rivers. Offshore islands include Iles du Salut (
and Devil's Island).
French Guiana's land begins to gently rise in the central regions of the country, ending at the base of the Tumac-Humac Mountains, along its southern border with
Brazil.
French Guinea is a land of rivers, many flowing north from the southern mountains; major ones include the Maroni and Lawa, forming its (
disputed) border with Suriname; the Oyapok, forming a long natural border with Brazil, and the Approuaque, Camopi, Mana and Tompok.
The Barrage de Petit-Saut hydroelectric dam in the far north eventually formed a large artificial lake to the northeast of St Elie.
