Communications The main roads of the country are in the coastal area and extend through the towns and villages which lie in a narrow band not far from the ocean. An important exception is the highway which runs from Soesdyke, 21 miles from the capital, Georgetown, to the bauxite mining town of Linden, a distance of 44 miles. A road from Georgetown runs south to Soesdyke continuing to Timehri International Airport, about 27 miles from Georgetown. The highway from Guyana to Brazil is close to completion and would give Guyana a connection to the road networks of the continent.
Telecommunications:
Railways:
standard gauge: 139 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge
note: all dedicated to ore transport (2001)
Highways:
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (1996)
Waterways: 5,900 km (total length of navigable waterways)
note: Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively
Ports and harbors: Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika
Merchant marine:
ships by type: cargo 2 (2000 est.)
Airports: 51 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 36 (2000 est.) Rivers are a very important means of transportation particularly in the interior of Guyana. Guyana is served mainly by the Port of Georgetown which is located at the mouth of the Demerara River. The channel of the Georgetown Port is 70 meters wide and is clearly marked. The depth of the water in the navigable section varies from 6.9 meters to 8.5 meters. Another important port is the port at the town of Linden on the Demerara River which serves as a transit point for bauxite products from the Demerara region.
Other main waterways used for coastal and river shipping are the Berbice, Canje, Corentyne, Essequibo, Pomeroon, and Waini rivers.
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