guatemala

This article is about the country in Central America. For other uses, see Guatemala (disambiguation)
República de Guatemala
Republic of Guatemala


Flag
Coat of arms
MottoEl País de la Eterna Primavera [citation needed]"Land of Eternal Spring"
AnthemHimno Nacional de Guatemala

Capital(and largest city)
Guatemala City14°38′N, 90°30′W
Official languages
Spanish
Government
Presidential republic
-
President
Oscar Berger
Independence
from Spain
-
Date
September 15, 1821
Area
-
Total
108,890 km² (106th)42,042 sq mi
-
Water (%)
0.4
Population
-
July 2005 estimate
12,800,000 (70th)
-
Density
134.6 /km² (85th)348.6 /sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2005 estimate
-
Total
$62.78 billion (71st)
-
Per capita
$4,155 (116th)
Gini? (2002)
55.1 (high)
HDI (2004)
0.673 (medium) (117th)
Currency
Quetzal (GTQ)
Time zone
(UTC-6)
Internet TLD
.gt
Calling code
+502
Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala (Spanish: República de Guatemala, IPA: [re'puβlika ðe ɣwate'mala]), is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the northwest, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast.
The most populous nation in Central America, Guatemala is best known for its historical role as a major seat of Pre-Columbian cultures, particularly the Mayans. Numerous sites of major archaeological significance have been discovered, including the ruins of the ancient city of Tikal. The abundance of sites helps supply the nation with a healthy stream of tourists (1.5 million in 2006).[1] Guatemala is also home to several volcanoes, some of which can be climbed even though they are still active. Lake Atitlan is a large lake with volcanoes on its shores. Legend has it that the entire lake is actually the huge crater of an ancient volcano. Other than tourism, Guatemala's economy depends largely upon agriculture, with coffee and sugar among its main exports.
Guatemala 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. Guatemala's abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems contribute to Mesoamerica's designation as an important biodiversity hotspot.[2]