Introduction to Geography of Guatemala
Guatemala, or Republic of Guatemala, an independent country of Central America. It borders Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador and lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Honduras, an arm of the Caribbean Sea. Guatemala has an area of 42,042 square miles (108,889 km2). Maximum distances are roughly 280 miles (450 km) north-south and 250 miles (400 km) east-west.
Facts in brief about GuatemalaCapital: Guatemala City.Official language: Spanish.Area: 42,042 mi2 (108,889 km2). Greatest distances—north-south, 283 mi (455 km); east-west, 261 mi (420 km). Coastlines—Pacific, 152 mi (245 km); Caribbean, 53 mi (85 km).Elevation: Highest—Volcan Tajumulco, 13,845 ft (4,220 m) above sea level. Lowest—sea level along the coasts.Population: Current estimate—13,532,000; density, 322 per mi2 (124 per km2); distribution, 53 percent rural, 47 percent urban. 2002 census—11,237,196.Chief products: Agriculture—bananas, beans, beef cattle, cardamom, coffee, corn, cotton, sugar cane. Manufacturing—clothing and textiles, handicrafts, processed foods and beverages.Flag and coat of arms: Guatemala's state flag, adopted in 1871, has three vertical stripes, blue, white, and blue (left to right), with the country's coat of arms in the center. The blue stripes represent the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, which border the country. The civil flag, flown by the people, does not include the coat of arms. The coat of arms includes a quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, and a scroll bearing the date when independence was declared.Money: Basic unit—quetzal. One hundred centavos equal one quetzal.Physical Geography
Guatemala is a country in Central America.Narrow lowlands run along both coasts. Between them lie the highlands, covering about half of the country. Dominant features are mountains, volcanoes, high plateaus, broad basins, and many valleys. The highest mountains, many of which are volcanoes, rise sharply from the Pacific lowland. Tajumulco, a 13,845-foot (4,220-m) inactive cone in the Sierra Madre, is Guatemala's highest peak. Northern Guatemala is a low, rolling tableland called the Petén, the southernmost part of the Yucatán Peninsula. Guatemala is subject to earthquakes, which are often severe.
Guatemala's chief rivers originate in the highlands and flow to the Atlantic through either Guatemala or Mexico. They include the Motagua and the Usumacinta. Chief lakes are Izabal, Petén Itzá, and Atitlán.
Climate remains fairly constant throughout the year but varies with elevation. The lowlands, especially in the north, are hot, humid, and often malarial, with average annual temperatures around 80° F. (27° C.). In the mountains, averages are 10° to 30° F. (6° to 17° C.) lower. Most of the people live in the cool highlands. Northeast trade winds bring heavy rains to much of the country. In most areas, May to October is the rainy season; November to April is the dry.
Lush tropical rain forests occur along the Atlantic lowland and in the Petén. Many of these forests have been cleared to develop agriculture. This has led to numerous problems, including soil erosion. Savannas predominate along the drier Pacific coast. The highlands are covered by grasslands and forests that are deciduous at low elevations and coniferous higher up.
Wild animals live mainly in the sparsely populated tropical lowlands and remote mountain areas. There are monkeys, jaguars, pumas, bears, deer, anteaters, and armadillos, as well as poisonous snakes and many colorful birds. The rare quetzal, a bird venerated by the ancient Mayas, symbolizes freedom and is a national emblem.
Economy
Guatemala has one of Central America's most developed economies. Although it has important manufacturing industries, Guatemala remains a largely agricultural country. It is favored by a diverse climate and rich soils, especially the volcanic soils of the highlands. Peasant landholdings are usually small and crudely worked, but provide a livelihood, at the subsistence level, for most of the people. Corn and beans are the main crops. In contrast, commercial plantations specialize in export crops and are generally large, modern, and owned by a few people; some are foreign owned. Coffee is the leading export; cotton ranks second. Bananas, sugar, cardamom, and meat are also significant exports. Livestock consists mainly of beef cattle, sheep, and pigs.
Manufacturing is fairly well developed. Especially important is the production of textiles, beverages, petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, and processed foods. Guatemala's membership in the Central American Common Market greatly aided the country's manufacturing, especially during the 1960's and 1970's, by providing new markets. Guatemala City is the main manufacturing center.
Petroleum was discovered in the Petén in the 1970's; substantial production began in the early 1980's. Nickel is the only metal mined in significant amounts. Timber, marble, and shrimp also are notable Guatemalan products.
The railway system, which is largely government-owned, links both coasts and connects with lines in Mexico and El Salvador. Except for parts of the Inter-American (Pan American) Highway and several other main highways, few roads are paved. Puerto Barrios is the chief port. Guatemala City's airport serves the national carrier and a number of foreign airlines.
Guatemala's basic currency unit is the quetzal.
The People
Most of the people are either ladinos (of mixed Indian and Spanish descent) or of pure Indian ancestry. The rest are mainly of Spanish ancestry; a few are blacks and mulattoes. The proportion of Indians in Guatemala is higher than in any other Latin American country. Chiefly the descendants of ancient Maya-Quiché tribes, Indians live in isolated mountain villages, retaining age-old ways of life.
Guatemala City, the capital, is the country's largest city, with a population of 1,167,495. Other major cities are Quezaltenango (103,631), Escuintla (69,532), Mazatenango (43,316), Puerto Barrios (39,379), and Retalhuleu (40,062).
The official language is Spanish. Indians speak various Maya-Quiché tongues, each with several dialects. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution. Roman Catholics predominate.
Six years of elementary education are by law free and compulsory. However, there are too few teachers and schools, and more than 45 per cent of the people are illiterate. The University of San Carlos, in Guatemala City, is the country's chief institution of higher learning.
Government
Under the constitution that went into effect in 1986 and was amended in 1994, Guatemala is a republic governed by a president and a one-chamber Congress, both elected for four years by popular vote. A council of ministers is appointed by the president. The judiciary is headed by a 13 member supreme court. The country is divided into 22 administrative departments. Voting is mandatory for all literate citizens age 18 or over.