The County of Guatemala is located in Central America, just south of Mexico. It is bordered on the North
by Mexico, on the east by Belize
and the Caribbean Sea; on the south by Honduras and El Salvador and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.
It is the largest of the
nations that comprise Central America. It was the pre-columbian capital of the Mayan
Civilization. Today, it still has 21 distinct Mayan dialects or languages among its majority population, although its
official language is Spanish.
Guatemala, which means “place of many trees”,
is the most populous nation in Central America, with a population of about 13 million. It is a representative democracy with its capital at Guatemala City. Although the
nation has been relatively stable since 1996, Guatemala's recent history has been plagued by civil
war and military coups, which have slowed the nation's development. Large portions
of Guatemala's
interior remain wholly undeveloped, including the nation's many rainforests and wetlands.
The indigenous people are descendents of the Mayans and are known to have been in this locale for over 10,000 years. In the early 1500’s, Spain’s conquistador and conqueror of Mexico,
Hernando Cortez, sent Captain Pedro de Alvarez to conquer this land. This region was not as rich in minerals (gold and silver) as Mexico
and Peru,
and was therefore not considered to be as important. Its main products were sugar cane, cocoa, blue añil dye, red dye from
cochineal insects, and precious woods used in artwork for churches and palaces in Spain.
Guatemala gained its independence from Spain on September
15, 1821, and it was incorporated into the Mexican Empire for a short time. It
later became part of a series of short-lived consolidations Central American states, including the “República Federal de Centroamérica”, sometimes
called the “United States
of Central America”
Click *HERE* to link to a map of Guatemala.
Demographics
People
There are approximately
13 million people in Guatemala,
and 60% are “ladinos”, a mixture of European (mostly Spanish) and Amerindian
descent. The remaining 40% are indigenous Amerindians. The official language is Spanish; however, 21 distinct Mayan languages are spoken. Spanish is rarely used
by the indigenous population, even as a second language.
Geography
Guatemala has a land area of about 42,000
square miles, or about the size of Virginia. It is mountainous, except for the south
coastal area and the northern vast lowlands of Petén. Two mountain chains enter Guatemala
from west to east, dividing the country into three major regions: the highlands, where the mountains are located; the Pacific
coast, south of the mountains; and the Petén region, north of the mountains. All major cities are located in the highlands
and Pacific coast regions; by comparison, Petén is sparsely populated. These three regions vary in climate, elevation, and
landscape, providing dramatic contrasts between hot and humid tropical lowlands and colder and drier highland peaks. Volcán
Tajumulco, at 4,220 meters, is the highest point in Central America.
Commerce
The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-fifths of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee,
sugar, textiles, fresh vegetables, and bananas are the country's main exports.
Religion
The people of Guatemala
are predominantly Roman Catholic.
The patron saint of Guatemala,
Hermano Pedro de Betancourt, was a Spanish missionary. He is known as the “St.
Francis of the Americas”
for his work in instituting hospitals, schools for the poor, and homeless shelters,. among other charitable activities. He founded
the religious order, La Orden de los Bethlemitas
y las Bethlemitas. He died in Antigua
at the age of 41 and was canonized as the first Guatemalan saint by Pope John Paul II during his visit there in July, 2002.
Education
The government runs a number of public elementary and secondary-level
schools. These schools are free, though the cost of uniforms, books, supplies, and transportation makes them less accessible
to the poorer segments of society. Many middle and upper-class children go to private schools. The country also has one public
university (Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala),
and 9 private ones. 71% of the population aged 15 and over are literate, but
it is the lowest literacy rate in Central America.
Weather
The weather varies greatly
by location, but is largely semi-tropical. Temperatures and humidity vary according to proximity to the ocean or mountain
ranges. The summer months are the rainy season, and, although rain showers are
brief, they may be heavy. Temperatures in Antigua
range from the 70’s in the day to the 50’s at night with humidity in the 70 to 90% range. Temperatures are generally
cooler in Chichi because it is in a mountainous region.
Time Zone
Central Standard Time (2
hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time):
Noon in Raleigh = 10AM
in Guatemala
