Guatemala is one of the many states of Latin America. White beaches and sea coasts are combined with dense forests and volcanoes. And the local mountains still preserve the Mayan architectural heritage. Where is Guatemala located? What is she like? Let's find out.
Guatemala on a world map
Guatemala is the northernmost and most numerous of all the countries of Central America. It is inhabited by 14.4 million people. Its area covers 108,899 square kilometers and occupies 106th place in the world.
Where is Guatemala located? It is located on the continent of North America. In the south, the country is washed by the ocean, and in the east by the Gulf of the Caribbean. Neighboring Guatemala with Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador and Belize.
It is a largely agricultural country. Sugarcane, coffee, corn, legumes and bananas are grown here. Where Guatemala is located, of course, affects its economic ties. The republic supplies the lion's share of manufactured products to its closest neighbors - the USA, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras.
In turn, Guatemala buys building materials, machinery, fuel and electricity from these countries. Proximity to the ocean also allows you to trade with China. In addition, tourism and services are developing in the republic. Compared to other Central American countries, it wins its economic position, but in the world it appears to be a relatively unstable state.
The population and its formation
Until 1523, Europeans did not know where Guatemala was located. And then it was not a single state. On its territory lived a lot of scattered Mayan tribes. The discovery of America by Columbus brought here the Spaniards, who immediately began colonization.
Local residents were subjugated, but not exterminated. In Guatemala, reeds and coffee were grown, precious metals were mined and natural dyes were made. Unlike most other territories, Negro slaves were brought here a little. Independent Guatemala on the world map appeared only in 1821.
Now the majority (60%) of the country's population is represented by non-indigenous peoples. Indigenous people belong to several nationalities that descended from individual Mayan tribes. So, in the republic live the direct descendants of the Quiche Indians, Moms, Kakchikels, Kecchi, etc. The remaining inhabitants are descendants of mixed marriages between Spaniards and Indians or Negroes.
Big cities
The urban population is approximately 49%. The capital of the republic and the largest city in all of Central America is called Guatemala. It is also called the “New Guatemal Ascension”. In 1776 the center of the state was moved here, and the name “Old Guatemala” was assigned to the former capital.
A million people live in the city. It is one of the tourist centers of the country. Within the city are the ruins of an ancient Native American fortification. In the New Capital, sculptures of the colonial era and frescoes depicting the motifs of folk myths were also preserved.
The second largest city in Guatemala is Quetzaltenango. It is inhabited by 225 thousand inhabitants. It is located on a hill, two thousand meters above sea level. If the capital supports the role of a cultural and historical center, then Quesaltenango took over the field of industry and trade.
The city operates industries related to the food industry, the manufacture of shoes, cotton and wool. There is a cement plant and a large airport.
Animal world
The low level of urbanization, dense forests and impassable mountains made Guatemala a pleasant place for many animals. In the country there are typical inhabitants of hot regions - anteaters, armadillos, sloths, porcupines and tapirs.
In the local forests live cougars and jaguars, deer, iguanas and poisonous snakes. Caimans live in the rivers, and the coastal waters are full of shrimp and fish. There are more than two thousand tropical bird species. The most famous of them is quetzal.
Little quetzal with a green-blue back and a red breast is a symbol of Guatemala. This is a sacred bird among the Mayans and the Aztecs. She was considered the patron saint of the air. Feathers from her tail could be worn only by nobles and priests. Ketsal is depicted on the flag, coat of arms, postage stamps and local currency, which, moreover, is named after her.
Natural resources
Half of Guatemala is covered by the Cordillera Mountains, stretching across the entire continent. There are also many hills and uplands in the country, and plains run along the coasts. The country has many lakes, rivers and sandy beaches.
Guatemala has a tropical climate. Winter and summer are almost indistinguishable and always warm. Only 17% of the republic does not cover forests. They grow a huge variety of trees, many of which are highly valued. Such, for example, are rosewood, Guatemalan fir, cypress, bacout and mahogany.
Guatemala is a country with an unimaginably beautiful, but sometimes dangerous nature. Within it there are 33 volcanoes, at least three of them active. The eruption of the volcano Agua destroyed the first capital of the republic. They provoke earthquakes. The last major shake occurred in 1976 and claimed the lives of 20 thousand people.