Land of the Maya. Humidity: 80%. Heres my collection of 24 things to know about the diverse country of Guatemala. (Source: Washington Post), 20. If you thought the idea for the McDonalds Happy Meal was cooked up in the United States, think again! Museo de Historia. Changing climate is also its top topic. 3. Beverages: locals in Guatemala prefer to drink coffee weak and sweet with little milk. In fact, schools across the citys many zones are likely to close early if ash is descending purely a move of safety! The characteristic appearance created by low massive structures has been modified somewhat by the erection of steel and concrete multistoried hotels and office and apartment buildings of modern design. The river is a major transportation artery for coffee, bananas and other fruits that are raised in the valleys of the countrys eastern region. Im a regular contributor to Storyteller Travel. If you guessed that the country is home to many fabulous beaches on both coasts, youd be right! Now (as of 2022), the population is 17,703,190. . The name fits well because Guatemala has plenty of trees in its vast wilderness areas and even in its sprawling cities. On this site, readers will find our experiences, gear reviews, photography, tips, and informative travel guides. All of these risk factors make potential growth rates of diabetes a concern. Pachas (a kind of tamale made from potatoes) is a common dish in Guatemala eaten usually on Thursdays. In addition, every village celebrates the day of their Patron Saint, where cultural activities such as a presentation of crafts, processions and folkloric dances take place. More interestingly, the agricultural sector employs about 50% of the country's labor force. Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya Civilization. It is believed that Guatemala invented the first chocolate bar and its one of its biggest exports so we can thank the country for getting it out to the rest of us. Ethnicity, Language, And Religion In Guatemala. Beautiful Volcn Atitln is the tallest of the three impressive volcanoes on spectacular Lake Atitln, one of the most beautiful lakes in Central America. Required fields are marked *. Now here going to know about guatemala food facts. 10. Guatemala is a fairly small country but Guatemala City boasts the largest population in Central America, with around three million people. If youre flying out to Guatemala City, it may be worth taking note of the longitude and latitude! With a rich history and culture, there are plenty of fun facts about Guatemala to learn. Public buildings of note include the National Palace, the post office, police headquarters, the National Archives, the National Archaeological Museum (with its collection of Mayan artifacts), the National Library, and the modern cluster of buildings around the city hall. Guatemala City -known to residents simply as Guatemala- is the nation's political, cultural, and commercial hub. Family life: families in Guatemala share a close bond with each other and remain that way their entire lives. In ancient Mayan times, the feathers of this bird were used as currency. People also paint the gravestones of their relatives with bright colors. To date, two people from Guatemala have won the Nobel Prize. Several villages were evacuated when the nearby Pacaya volcano erupted in 2000. There is even an entire festival dedicated to flying kites specifically to honor the dead. Guatemala is part of the ring of fire, 20. 20 Awesome Tips for Planning Your Patagonia Trip. Guatemala is home to the highest point in Central America, 21. As is the case in many regions of Central and South America, the tap water is not safe to drink. (Source: The Guardian), Complete Flags of the World. This was actually the Spaniards third try at making a capital city in this newly founded territory. The Guatemalan security forces that murdered thousands of civilians were trained and equipped by the USA. However, most of their great stone cities were abandoned by the year 900. Guatemala is the home of the Maya civilization. Some amazing facts about Guatemala. Quauhteallan means "land of trees" or "forested land.". Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Its capital city, Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncin (Guatemala City), is the largest city in Central America. The country has the second-largest concentration of Ozone. At seven and a half percent, the diabetes rate in Guatemala is not beyond help, but 47.7 percent of the population is overweight, 16.4 percent of the population is obese and 12.4 percent of the population is considered physically inactive. Tikal National Park is the worlds first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site. 3. Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncin, which is also the largest and capital city of Guatemala, is known as Guatemala City. Lying in a valley of the central highlands at an elevation of 4,897 feet (1,493 metres) above sea level, it has a temperate and invigorating mountain climate. The first one was Iximche (1524) near the Mayan tribe Kaqchiquel until they rebelled. It's an excellent choice to stay at while being in Guatemala city. In fact, its around 267 square miles, or 692 square km, end to end. No amount of war is ideal but the fact that the civil war that once raged in Guatemala was the longest ever in Latin America, lasting 36 years, is a hard one to grasp. Only slightly larger than the U.S. state of Tennessee, Guatemala is a mountainous country with one-third of the population living in cool highland villages. 26. It is a large baroque style church with a beautiful bright blue dome visible from the distance. Guatemala was conquered by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in 1524. Essential Facts. It is also referred to as the "land of the eternal spring" due to its warm tropical climate, which is more temperate in the highlands and drier in the easternmost areas. Feeling hungry? The unequal distribution of land and wealth in the country is the biggest reason for uneven development in the region. The export of coffee is the countrys biggest business. Required fields are marked *. This makes it the second-highest peak in Central America. Most backpackers follow the same route. While Spanish is the main tongue of Guatemala City, youll actually find that there are 21 other indigenous languages spoken by people living in and around the area, too. The national anthem of Guatemala was not written by a Guatemalan, but by a Cuban Jos Joaqun Palma. Antigua Guatemala, the previous capital, had been devastated completely by an earthquake. 2023 TheFactFile.Org. These 3 are the appropriately named Fuego (Fire) Volcano, Pacaya Volcano, and Santa Maria Volcano. Antigua Guatemala. Families in Guatemala share a close bond with each other and remain that way their entire lives. 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. Share them in the comments below! Tajumulco Volcano, the highest point in the country and Central America, is 4203 m above sea level. And an average of 101 murders per week was reported in 2016. Your email address will not be published. People from all over the, Turkey is a large country literally on the diving line between Europe and Asia (but more on that later). Straddling Guatemala's border with Mexico, Volcan Tacana towers above its surroundings, dwarfing everything with its colossal 4,060-metre summit. Dining Etiquettes: when invited to a Guatemala household for dinner, carry a small gift item (avoid food items) for the family. Jade is rare, but Guatemala happens to have more of these precious stones than most other places, making it a leading exporter of the pretty, greenish stones that are made into ornamental gems that are used in jewelry around the world. When you use our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. DK: London), 8. 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. Interesting facts about Guatemala. 2. The primary language of Guatemala is Spanish. One interesting fact about Guatemala is that Blue denim comes from the country! 1. Its thought that 1.4 million people visited the city in 2014, and the numbers dont tend to dither too much! The longest civil war in Latin American history was in Guatemala, 8. Guatemala City is generally famous for its sheer size - though also for its banking and transport prowess, too. 2.) Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America, 3. Guatemala is divided into 22 departments, which are further divided into 335 municipalities. Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncin, which is also the largest and capital city of Guatemala, is known as Guatemala City. The latitude of Guatemala City, Guatemala is 14.628434 , and the longitude is -90.522713 . The exquisite taste and quality of Guatemalan coffee can be attributed to the regions microclimates, unique cultivation methods and altitude among other factors. Guatemala City is the most populous city in Central America. Her advice about international travel, outdoor sports, and African safari has been featured on Lonely Planet, Business Insider, and Readers Digest. One of the top textiles produced in the country is blue denim. Additionally, while twenty- one Mayan languages are widely spoken throughout the highlands, Xinca, Arawakan and two non-Mayan Amerindian languages are spoken on the Caribbean coast. In 1998 hurricane Mitch hit Guatemala. If you want to spend money while visiting Guatemala City, youre going to need to change your dollars for the Guatemalan Quetzal. While U.S. dollars are accepted in Guatemala, it's a good idea keep smaller Quetzal bills on hand. Remember these details: 14.6349 N, 90.5069 W. Guatemala City remains something of a tourist hotspot (emphasis on hot!). 1. Do you know any fun facts about Guatemala? Open now. Chocolate residue dating back to 460-480 AD was found in a vessel in Guatemala. Similarly, before getting from the table after having the meal, you must say Con permiso, ya vengo(with your permission, Ill be right back). 49. Guatemalas Lake Atitln is the deepest lake in Central America, with a maximum depth of about 340 meters. Archeological finds suggest that the region was inhabited by humans as far back as 20,000 years ago. Here are some fun facts about Guatemala City that may just surprise you. Over one-third of Guatemala is covered by forests. A Guatemalan woman proposed a meal option with smaller portions for children in the 1970s. 2. This is one of my favorite interesting facts about Guatemala! (Source: Lonely Planet), 16. Even though Spanish is the official language, there are 23 officially recognized indigenous languages in Guatemala. Please add your thoughts to the comments below. Join us as we share our experiences and the best attractions, animals, and foods from around the world. 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. We also share travel tips, packing lists, and gear reviews. The civil war in Guatemala was fought between November 13, 1960, and December 29, 1996. 5. The Quetzal is the national bird & White Nun Orchid (Monja Blanca) is thenational flower of Guatemala. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Guatemala is a land of extraordinary landscapes and a sense of the exotic, and you will also find a profound sense of hospitality among the people, who will invite you to discover all aspects of their country . The country features over 10,000 plants and over 3,000 wildlife species. Many of these arrive on cruise ships. Considered one of the most advanced and sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations, the Mayans built astonishing pyramid-temples. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In addition to modern art, there are also many indigenous artists who reflect the styles of their ancestors from centuries before. Guatemala Area and Population Density. The country's contemporary capital, Guatemala City, is a major metropolitan centre; Quetzaltenango in the western highlands is the nucleus of the Indian population. While the Garifuna people of the Afro-Caribbean descent have their own varieties of folk music, lower classes enjoy the Cumbia, a dance oriented music genre. 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. Its thought that 1.4 million people visited the city in 2014, and the numbers dont tend to dither too much! Guatemala geographical features more than other city. The Guatemalan economy is robust, and is actually the largest economy in Central America. Avg. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 04 With a total area of 108,889 sq km, Guatemala is the world's 107th largest nation. Welcoming a new born: as soon as a baby is born, hot tortilla drink is given to the mother. In the 1600s and 1700s, a number of treaties were signed between Britain and Spain saying that Belize fell under Spanish sovereignty, but could be used by the English. Volcn Tajumulco stands tall at 13,850 feet (4,220 meters), making it the highest peak in all of Central America. The lake is the deepest lake in Central America and is believed to be 900 feet (300 meters) deep and covers 48 square miles (125 square kilometers). The Maya reached the height of their power sometime in the sixth century. 9. A great contrast can be seen between the cultures of the poverty-stricken Mayan rural residents of the country who live in the highland region and the relatively wealthy mestizos (called Ladinos in Guatemala) living in the urban areas. 1. Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America. Apart from drinking fruit juices, Guatemalans also love drinking fruit shakes, commonly referred as licuados. (Source: Lonely Planet), 6. Therefore, Guatemala City was completely rebuilt in its stead. Marimba is the national instrument of Guatemala. There are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Guatemala. The instant coffee process was invented in Guatemala by George Washington, an inventor, and businessman of Anglo-Belgian origin. The Oriental Orthodoxy and the Eastern Orthodox Church claim rapid growth, especially in the native Maya people. 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