The white is the country itself while the blue strips are the two oceans that border it. Beer and rum are major industries, as is the production of paper goods. If you are planning a trip to Guatemala, or simply intrigued about the country, here are 7 interesting facts. Its capital city, Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncin (Guatemala City), is the largest city in Central America. The conflict saw an estimated 200,000 people killed with many of the casualties a result of human rights atrocities committed by the government. MAJESTIC TURKEY BY CULTURE TRIP. Guatemala is the home of the Maya civilization. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. See Four Magnificent Volcanoes. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Its even advised that tourists use bottled water when brushing their teeth. Area. In the town of San Andres Itzapa, there is even a large temple dedicated to his worship. Known for its historical sites, natural beauty, and archaeological wonders, Guatemala receives around two million tourists a year. Hundreds of people died and over 4,000 displaced when the volcano erupted twice within six months. Atitln. In addition, Guatemalans also enjoy an activity known as Spelunking where they go and explore the caves. After independence from Spain was declared in 1821, Guatemala City served successively as the capital of the province of Central America under the Mexican Empire of Agustn de Iturbide (182223), the Central American Federation (182333), the state, and, finally, the independent Republic of Guatemala. Guatemala is the top remittance recipient in Central America as a result of Guatemalas large expatriate community in the US. The Quetzal is the national bird & White Nun Orchid (Monja Blanca) is thenational flower of Guatemala. Every year on All Saints Day, the people of Sacatepequez fly giant kites up to 12m in size over the graves of their family members while they pray and lay flowers. The Mayan Empire was centered in the lowlands of Guatemala, 5. However, following a devasting earthquake in 1773, the capital was moved to Guatemala City in 1776. It is estimated that this war claimed 200,000 casualties, including genocide committed against the Maya population. If you guessed that the country is home to many fabulous beaches on both coasts, youd be right! In ancient Mayan times, the feathers of this bird were used as currency. Before the Spanish people arrived in Central America, Guatemala was inhabited by indigenous Mayan peoples. It contains 14 eco-regions including mangroves, littorals, scrublands, dry forests, cloud forests, and subtropical and tropical rainforests. The Home of the Happy Meal. 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. Guatemala is bordered by Mexico , Belize , Honduras, and El Salvador. (Source: Lonely Planet, Britannica), 15. Guatemala flag. If youre planning to travel to Bulgaria, there are some important, For many, Tanzania may be the most well-known country in Africa. Name Elevation (m) Elevation (ft) Coordinates Last eruption Acatenango: 3976: 13,044 1972 Agua: 3760: 12,336: Holocene . This volcano had its last small eruption in 1863 and has been quiet ever since. Were Bryan & Dena welcome to our site. Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Central American country of Guatemala comprises approximately 60,000 square miles of territory. 49. The tallest volcano in Central America, which also happens to be inactive and one of the top places to visit in the country, is Tajumulco in San Marcos. Guatemala is divided into 22 departments, which are further divided into 335 municipalities. She called it something else but when the idea crossed the desk of a McDonalds executive in the United States, he liked the idea and added it to the menu after changing the name to the one we know today, the Happy Meal. Guatemala is a popular destination among travelers due to its unique heritage and natural beauty. There is an ongoing territorial dispute between Guatemala and Belize, 13. The climate in Guatemala City is pretty fantastic youll generally experience savannah weather here from around 70 degrees F up to 82 degrees F. Better pack some sunscreen and keep hydrated on the move, then! Today you can go to many local markets to buy beautifully crafted jade jewelry. Avoid getting scammed at the market in Guatemala. Guatemala has the youngest population in Latin America, 19. This is one of my favorite interesting facts about Guatemala! Between 1523 and 1524, Spanish explorer Pedro de Alvarado defeated the indigenous Maya and turned Guatemala into a Spanish colony. These ruins are in the jungles of Northern Guatemala. 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. Tajumulco Volcano, the highest point in the country and Central America, is 4203 m above sea level. Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncin, which is also the largest and capital city of Guatemala, is known as Guatemala City. The national beer is called Gallo. 1. To the Spanish ear, it sounded like Guatemala., Quauhteallan means land of trees or forested land.. Interesting facts about Guatemala. Guatemala is thought to be one of the first places to invent chocolate. 2. Vendors even set up stalls on the stairs leading to . The ones in Panajachel, Antigua, and Guatemala City are all impressive as well. 1. 2. However, Evangelical Protestantism and later Orthodoxy have become popular in the recent decade. Motagua River is the longest river in Guatemala. Families in Guatemala share a close bond with each other and remain that way their entire lives. Beverages: locals in Guatemala prefer to drink coffee weak and sweet with little milk. 7. Despite being almost twice the size of Greater Manchester, Guatemala City has a population of around a similar total. Spanish is the official and most commonly spoken language. 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. She is an expert in travel, budgeting, and finding unique experiences. 6. In 1998 hurricane Mitch hit Guatemala. 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 . Guatemala has many light industries, most of which involve the processing of locally grown products such as chicken, beef, pork, coffee, wheat, corn, sugar, cotton, cacao, vegetables and fruits, and spices such as cinnamon and cardamom. Other points of interest include the remarkable concrete relief map of the country in Minerva Park, the archaeological and historical museums, the colonial aqueduct, the central market, and Olympic City, built for the Central American Olympic Games of 1950. Given that the city is surrounded by volcanoes, its a hub for natural activity and, sadly, disasters. 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. Guatemala City also dominates the cultural life of the country. 25. Most 21 Interesting & Funny Facts about Nevada that Nobody Know. Whether it is or not, one thing is for certain and thats that the lake is the deepest in Central America. In fact, schools across the citys many zones are likely to close early if ash is descending purely a move of safety! The country has a long and rich history, and with that, Looking for a few fun facts about Italy? Traditional Dance: Guatemala is famous for its traditional dances. Guatemalan cuisine is a delicious blend of many cultures including Mayan and Spanish. Do you know any fun facts about Guatemala? Temperatures are generally moderate during both seasons, ranging from an average low of 53F in January to 60-85F in April. 27. Considered one of the most advanced and sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations, the Mayans built astonishing pyramid-temples. Suchitan, Ixtepeque, Acatenango, Atitlan, Moyuta, Agua, Cerro Santiago, Tajumulco, Chingo, Quezaltepeque, Chiquimula, Cuilapa-Barbarena, Flores, Fuego, Ipala Volc Field, Santa Maria, Almolonga, Santo Tomas, Tahual, Pacaya, Tecuamburro and Toliman are the names of some of the volcanoes from the region. Guatemala Facts - 10 Fun and Interesting Facts! Are you know what is Guatemala famous for? The Garifuna are descendants of African slaves and Arawak Indians from the West Indies brought to Central . He is usually depicted as a wood effigy, sitting in a chair. Perhaps it should be. The country is also the worlds leading producer of Jade. It is also known as Xela (pronounced "sheh-lah") or Xelaj ("sheh-lah-hoo"), its original name in the k'iche' language, and which means "under the ten ideas or concepts". Comparing this to a British locale, it's around 1.5x bigger than Greater Manchester. The Quetzal is actually named for the national bird of the same moniker! We hope you enjoyed these facts about Guatemala, for more facts about the world see below: Natasha is the co-founder of The World Pursuit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This page was last modified on August 11, 2022. It is also known as Guatemala City. One of the top textiles produced in the country is blue denim. With a fascinating history and breathtaking nature, Guatemala has a lot to offer. Guatemalan culture is influenced by the two major ethnic groups. Antigua Guatemala, the previous capital, had been devastated completely by an earthquake. 00:59 - Source: CNN. Guatemalan Quetzalis named after the beautiful Quetzal bird. Population: 17.4 million people (2021) Capital: Guatemala City with 3 million people. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Here are some fun facts about Guatemala City that may just surprise you. Fortunately for visitors and locals alike, only three of the countrys 37 volcanoes are active so its safe to think that you will visit most of them without the worry of an eruption happening while youre there. Despite being almost twice the size of Greater Manchester, Guatemala City has a population of around a similar total. We also share travel tips, packing lists, and gear reviews. April 22, 2020. We hope to inspire other independent travelers and provide them with the resources to do so. Here are some fun facts about Guatemala City that may just surprise you. When you use our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Ozone is a gas which is available both in the Earths upper atmosphere (stratosphere) and at ground level (troposphere). The longest civil war in the history of Latin America, which was fought between military governments, right-wing vigilante groups and leftist rebels lasted a good 36 years. Hilacha is one of the famous traditional Guatemalan dishes. 2018 saw multiple eruptions of Volcn de Fuego (Volcano of Fire). One of the few buildings that survived the earthquakes in 1917 and 1918 in Guatemala City, it was restored in 1984 with its walls now reaching up to one meter thick on the outside and 0.60 meters in the interior. Guatemala is home to approximately 17.7 million people. (Source:Complete Flags of the World. If you are interested in seeing the lava flow, you may want to visit the Pacaya volcano. With these facts about Guatemala, let us explore its history, culture, food, volcanoes, geography, economy, trade and more. Is an ongoing territorial dispute between Guatemala and Belize, Honduras, and subtropical and tropical rainforests independent. 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