Paramaribo, << `par` uh MAR uh `boh`, >> is the capital, largest city, and chief port of Suriname, a country in northeastern South America. The population of Paramaribo is approximately 240,000. About half of the people in Suriname live in Paramaribo. The city lies on the Suriname River, 12 miles (20 kilometers) inland from the Atlantic Ocean. Industrial firms in Paramaribo manufacture aluminum, plywood, and various other products. The city is the home of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname and the Suriname Museum. Paramaribo grew up around a British fort built in the mid-1600’s. After the abolition of slavery in Suriname in 1863, many former slaves moved to Paramaribo. The city’s population grew rapidly, and industrial development began in the mid-1900’s.
