In the environs of Guatemala City are the villages of Chinautla, famous for hand-formed pottery, Mixco, which supplies the capital with fruits and vegetables, and the Indian towns of San Pedro and San Juan Sacatepquez, all of which suffered extensive damage in the earthquake of 1976. (Source: World Bank), 22. With a population of 18.4 million, (as of 2021) Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and the fifth-largest country of the North American continent. If you want to make sure you speak the local lingo before you visit, be sure to brush up on your Spanish, as its the official language of the city. The capital city of Guatemala is Guatemala City. Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America. Hotel in Zona 10, Guatemala. The beauty of the lake was praised by two prominent people in history: one being the German explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, and the other being Aldous Huxley. With an elevation of 4,220m (13,845ft), Tajumulco Volcano in Guatemala is the highest peak inCentral America. I guess its an acquired taste or perhaps some people just dont know good beer. Staff at Inguat, at 7 Av 1-17, Zona 4, Guatemala City (t 2421 2800, w visitguatemala.com), are always helpful and English-speakers are available. Surrounded by volcanoes, it has been called one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. No#10: Guatemala city. 29. It is located between Mexico and Belize (to the north and east) and El Salvador and Honduras (to the south and south-east). Many of these arrive on cruise ships. Despite being almost twice the size of Greater Manchester, Guatemala City has a population of around a similar total. Guatemala is home to the highest point in Central America, 21. There are 21 Mayan languages(alanguage familyspoken inMesoamericaand northernCentral America by at least 6 millionMaya peoples) spoken in Guatemala. Crafts and Hobbies: the intricate designs and brilliant colors used in raw cloth, as well as finished garments, make Guatemalas hand-spun and woven textiles one of the finest in the world. Today tamales are filled with beef, pork, chicken, cheese, green chiles, and vegetables. Your first clue of that will be the guards with pump-action shotguns outside every store, followed closely by the prodigious amounts of razor wire strewn over everything. Each village has its own individualist pattern, making it easy to identify the village of the person by the design of his or her clothes. The instant coffee process was invented in Guatemala by George Washington, an inventor, and businessman of Anglo-Belgian origin. Guatemala City, Guatemala is located at Guatemala country in the Cities place category with the gps coordinates of 14 37' 42.3624'' N and 90 31' 21.7668'' W. Coordinates of Guatemala City, Guatemala is given above in both decimal degrees and DMS . 41. A lot of Guatemalans live in poverty. 1 It's a big, sprawling metropolis where population growth has outpaced the city's . 43. Over one-third of Guatemala is covered by forests. There are around 22 different zones that the city splits into though some dont actually exist thanks to border clashes. Part of the Central America Volcanic Arc, Volcan Tacana lies in a remote part of Guatemala. Guatemalas national bird is the quetzal. Guatemala is the third-largest country in Central America and the 105th largest country in the world. 4. Your email address will not be published. Apart from drinking fruit juices, Guatemalans also love drinking fruit shakes, commonly referred as licuados. Motagua River is the longest river in Guatemala. Italy may be our favorite country in Europe and for that matter one of our favorites in the world. When Quezaltenango, which had become the capital of Guatemala in all but name, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1902, many of the leading families moved to Guatemala City. Fortunately, bottled water is available everywhere and most hotels offer filtered water at no extra cost. It's an amazingly big city. 1. It is called the land of eternal spring. Guatemalan Indian-rights activist, Rigoberta Mench, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1992. Guatemalans celebrate Dia de losMuertos, or the Day of the Dead, every first November. Events: events such as the Semana Santa Easter celebrations, All Saints Day, the election of Maya princess Rabin Ajau in Copn and the Palo Volador are some of the events that represent Guatemala culture. 8. Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Central American country of Guatemala comprises approximately 60,000 square miles of territory. Heres how to order food in Spanish. Considered the food of the gods by the Mayans, the chocolate-making tradition originated in the Maya world, which encompassed modern-day Guatemala. However, Spanish is their official language. And yes, to do in conjunction with this plaza (for about a half-day sightseeing in total) are Catedral Metropolitana on. Guatemala is one of only a handful of countries with capital cities named the same! Apart from drinking fruit juices, Guatemalans also love drinking fruit shakes, commonly referred as licuados. But remnants of other ancient sites have been unearthed and can be found all over the country. The picturesque town of Antigua, the ancient Maya city of Quirigua and Tikal National Park all have something very important in common; they are the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites that can be found in Guatemala. With these facts about Guatemala, let us explore its history, culture, food, volcanoes, geography, economy, trade and more. 10. Comparing this to a British locale, it's around 1.5x bigger than Greater Manchester. As the financial core of the country, too, its importance really cant be understated! Guatemala is home to at least 37 volcanoes, 3 of which have erupted since 2021. Guatemala City is surprisingly large. The country is also the world's leading producer of Jade. Jade is a semiprecious stone that has been used for centuries to decorate tools, ornaments, and mosaics. No#11: Famous things. Surrounded by pristine natural beauty and bordered by three towering volcanoes and several vibrant Mayan villages, the lake is, no doubt, a beautiful place and one that you should visit if you happen to be in Guatemala. Guatemala City, Spanish Guatemala or in full Ciudad de Guatemala, capital of Guatemala, the largest city in Central America, and the political, social, cultural, and economic centre of Guatemala. While Spanish is the official language of Guatemala, there are 24 other languages spoken in the country including 22 Mayan languages. Volcn Tajumulco stands tall at 13,850 feet (4,220 meters), making it the highest peak in all of Central America. Imagine these ancient ruins set against the lush jungle canopy and youll understand why they call this site mixed and why its one of the most visited places in the country. The active volcanoes in Guatemala include Fuego, Pacaya and Santiaguito. (Source: CIA World Fact Book), 14. 30 Interesting & Fun Facts about Maryland State | What is Known for? The national currency of Guatemala is the Quetzal (GTQ). In fact, it's around 267 square miles, or 692 square km, end to end. Guatemalan culture is influenced by the two major ethnic groups. Considered one of the most advanced and sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations, the Mayans built astonishing pyramid-temples. Guatemala, known as the "land of trees" in the Mayan tongue, is officially known as the Republic of Guatemala. All Saints Day Kite Festival, which takes place every November 1st, is a popular event in the country and kite-flying in honor of the dead has been part of local culture for over 3,000 years. 51. The countries of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica all use permutations of the design in their flags. More interestingly, the agricultural sector employs about 50% of the country's labor force. The deepest lake in Central America is in Guatemala, 22. The Guatemalan flag takes inspiration from the flag used by the United Provinces of Central America which consisted of blue-white-blue stripes and a coat of arms in the centre. It is the focus of highway, rail, and air transport and is the commercial and banking centre of the country. Guatemala has two main seasons. Guatemala is the home of the Maya civilization. $9,769. It might seem like a familiar system in cities, but in Guatemala City some of them are missing. Guatemala carries a mix of indigenous and colonial influences, a strong Mayan culture, and a rich natural landscape where you can find ancient ruins deep in the rainforest, Guatemala is as captivating in real life as it sounds. Given that the city is surrounded by volcanoes, its a hub for natural activity and, sadly, disasters. With a rich history and culture, there are plenty of fun facts about Guatemala to learn. She is an expert in travel, budgeting, and finding unique experiences. Whether it is or not, one thing is for certain and thats that the lake is the deepest in Central America. It was also used as a symbol of status and wealth. By contrast, the median age in the United States is 38.5 years. The instant coffee process was invented in Guatemala by George Washington, an inventor, and businessman of Anglo-Belgian origin. (2002) 942,348. Guatemala is one of the safest countries in Central America. Fourteen percent (14%) of Guatemalans live on less than $1.25 US a day. Marimba is the national instrument of Guatemala. Points of Interest & Landmarks Parks. Guatemala knew 36 years of civil war. Religion: Most Guatemalans are Christians (88%) Currency: 1 quetzal = 100 centavos. Read More 19 Interesting & Fun Facts about Iowa State | What is Known for?Continue, Read More Fun Facts About Vermont | 35 Things You Might Not KnowContinue, Read More 70 Interesting & Fun Facts about Barbados | Why Famous for?Continue, Read More 50+ Interesting Facts About Austin TexasContinue, Read More Most 21 Interesting & Funny Facts about Nevada that Nobody KnowContinue, Read More 30 Interesting & Fun Facts about Maryland State | What is Known for?Continue, Your email address will not be published. Along with the devastation it caused, the flooding and landslides uncovered a large vein of jade. 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