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The Guatemala portal

Republic of Guatemala
República de Guatemala (Spanish)
Motto: 
  • "Libre Crezca Fecundo"[1] (Spanish)
    (English: "Grow Free and Fertile")
Anthem: 
Himno Nacional de Guatemala
(English: "National Anthem of Guatemala")
ISO 3166 codeGT

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically bordered to the south by the Pacific Ocean and to the northeast by the Gulf of Honduras.


The territory of modern Guatemala hosted the core of the Maya civilization, which extended across Mesoamerica; in the 16th century, most of this was conquered by the Spanish and claimed as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain. Guatemala attained independence from Spain and Mexico in 1821. From 1823 to 1841, it was part of the Federal Republic of Central America. For the latter half of the 19th century, Guatemala suffered instability and civil strife. From the early 20th century, it was ruled by a series of dictators backed by the United States. In 1944, authoritarian leader Jorge Ubico was overthrown by a pro-democratic military coup, initiating a decade-long revolution that led to social and economic reforms. In 1954, a US-backed military coup ended the revolution and installed a dictatorship. From 1960 to 1996, Guatemala endured a bloody civil war fought between the US-backed government and leftist rebels, including genocidal massacres of the Maya population perpetrated by the Guatemalan military. The United Nations negotiated a peace accord, resulting in economic growth and successive democratic elections.


Guatemala's abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems includes many endemic species and contributes to Mesoamerica's designation as a biodiversity hotspot. Although rich in export goods, around a quarter of the population (4.6 million) face food insecurity. Other extant major issues include poverty, crime, corruption, drug trafficking, and civil instability.


With an estimated population of around 17.6 million,0 Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America, the 4th most populous country in North America and the 11th most populous country in the Americas. Its capital and largest city, Guatemala City, is the most populous city in Central America. (Full article...)

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Stela E (the largest freestanding stone monument in all of America).

Quiriguá (Spanish pronunciation: [kiɾiˈɣwa]) is an ancient Maya archaeological site in the department of Izabal in south-eastern Guatemala. It is a medium-sized site covering approximately 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi) along the lower Motagua River, with the ceremonial center about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the north bank. During the Maya Classic Period (AD 200–900), Quiriguá was situated at the juncture of several important trade routes. The site was occupied by 200, construction on the acropolis had begun by about 550, and an explosion of grander construction started in the 8th century. All construction had halted by about 850, except for a brief period of reoccupation in the Early Postclassic (c. 900 – c. 1200). Quiriguá shares its architectural and sculptural styles with the nearby Classic Period city of Copán, with whose history it is closely entwined.

Quiriguá's rapid expansion in the 8th century was tied to king K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat's military victory over Copán in 738. When the greatest king of Copán, Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil or "18-Rabbit", was defeated, he was captured and then sacrificed in the Great Plaza at Quiriguá. Before this, Quiriguá had been a vassal state of Copán, but it maintained its independence afterwards. The ceremonial architecture at Quiriguá is quite modest, but the site's importance lies in its wealth of sculpture, including the tallest stone monumental sculpture ever erected in the New World. Because of its historical importance, the site of Quiriguá was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981. (Full article...)

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Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I's portrait in Stela 26

Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I (Mayan pronunciation: [kʼinitʃ joːnal ahk]), also known as Ruler 1 (died February 3, 639 AD), was an ajaw of Piedras Negras, an ancient Maya settlement in Guatemala. He ruled during the Late Classic Period, from 603–639 AD. It has been proposed that he began a new dynasty at Piedras Negras, following years of ineffective kings. As to how Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I came to power, a consensus has not yet been reached, although it is known that he waged several successful wars against Palenque and Sak Tzʼiʼ. He was succeeded by his son, Itzam Kʼan Ahk I, in 639 AD and left behind several monuments, including stelae at Piedras Negras and a large mortuary temple now known as Pyramid R-5. (Full article...)

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  • Image 1Lake Atitlán, from a dock in San Juan La Laguna
    Lake Atitlán, from a dock in San Juan La Laguna
  • Image 2Jaguar Temple Tikal, Guatemala
    Jaguar Temple Tikal, Guatemala
  • Image 3Tikal Temple II
    Tikal Temple II
  • Image 4A view of Flores, El Petén
    A view of Flores, El Petén
  • Image 5A view of the beach in Livingston, Guatemala
    A view of the beach in Livingston, Guatemala
  • Image 6A camioneta or chicken bus, a typical mode of transportation in Guatemala
    A camioneta or chicken bus, a typical mode of transportation in Guatemala
  • Image 7Station and Customs of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, Northern Railway, 1896
    Station and Customs of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, Northern Railway, 1896
  • Image 8View from the top of the Lost World Pyramid, Temple IV on the right and top of pyramid 5C-49 (also known as the Talud-Tablero Temple) in the Plaza of the Lost World
    View from the top of the Lost World Pyramid, Temple IV on the right and top of pyramid 5C-49 (also known as the Talud-Tablero Temple) in the Plaza of the Lost World
  • Image 9A low impact trail built for ecotourists to protect an archeological site in Guatemala
    A low impact trail built for ecotourists to protect an archeological site in Guatemala
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  • The cult of Maximón (or San Simón) in the highlands of Western Guatemala venerates a cigar-smoking effigy with offerings of money, alcoholic spirits and tobacco.
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Northern Guatemala is a flat lowland plain dropping off from the Cuchumatanes mountain range sweeping across in an arc to the south. To the east of the mountains is the large lowland Lake Izabal, with an outlet into the Amatique Bay to the east, which itself opens onto the Gulf of Honduras. Immediately north of the mountains is the Lacandon forest, with Petén to the northeast. Ystapalapán was a settlement in the western Cuchumatanes. Cobán was in the foothills half way between Ystapalapán in the west and Lake Izabal in the east. Xocolo was at the northeastern extreme of Lake Izabal, where it flows out towards the sea. Nito, also known as Amatique, was on the coast where the river flowing out of the lake opened into the Amatique Bay. Lake Petén Itzá was in the centre of Petén, to the north. It was the location of Nojpetén. Tipu was situated to the east of Nojpetén, just to the east of the modern border with Belize. The "Tierra de Guerra" ("Land of War") covers a broad northern swathe of the mountains and the southern portion of the lowlands. The 1525 entry route crossed from the north, to the northwest of Lake Petén Itzá, passing the western tip of Nojpetén and close to the city. It then continued southeast to Xocolo, where it turned northeast to Nito, where it ended on the Caribbean coast. The 1618–1619 route entered from northeastern Belize and crossed southwest to Tipu, then headed westward to Nojpetén. A 1695 route left Cahabón and headed northeast before turning north to Mopán. From Mopán it curved northwest to Nojpetén. The 1695–1696 route entered from the north extreme and meandered southwards to Nojpetén.
Spanish entry routes to Petén during the 17th century, overlaid with the route that Hernán Cortés took in 1525

The Spanish conquest of Petén was the last stage of the conquest of Guatemala, a prolonged conflict during the Spanish colonisation of the Americas. A wide lowland plain covered with dense rainforest, Petén contains a central drainage basin with a series of lakes and areas of savannah. It is crossed by several ranges of low karstic hills and rises to the south as it nears the Guatemalan Highlands. The conquest of Petén, a region now incorporated into the modern republic of Guatemala, climaxed in 1697 with the capture of Nojpetén, the island capital of the Itza kingdom, by Martín de Ursúa y Arizmendi. With the defeat of the Itza, the last independent and unconquered native kingdom in the Americas fell to European colonisers.

Sizeable Maya populations existed in Petén before the conquest, particularly around the central lakes and along the rivers. Petén was divided into different Maya polities engaged in a complex web of alliances and enmities. The most important groups around the central lakes were the Itza, the Yalain and the Kowoj. Other groups with territories in Petén included the Kejache, the Acala, the Lakandon Chʼol, the Xocmo, the Chinamita, the Icaiche and the Manche Chʼol. (Full article...)

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The following are images from various Guatemala-related articles on Wikipedia.

  • Image 1Map of Guatemala in 1829. Note that borders with Mexico, Yucatán, and Chiapas are not defined. (from History of Guatemala)
    Map of Guatemala in 1829. Note that borders with Mexico, Yucatán, and Chiapas are not defined. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 2Coat of Arms of the Republic of Guatemala from 1858 to 1871. A replica was carved on the front of the Carrera Theater before it was remodeled in 1892. (from History of Guatemala)
    Coat of Arms of the Republic of Guatemala from 1858 to 1871. A replica was carved on the front of the Carrera Theater before it was remodeled in 1892. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 3Central America in the 16th century, before the Spanish conquest (from History of Guatemala)
    Central America in the 16th century, before the Spanish conquest (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 4General Francisco Morazán (from History of Guatemala)
    General Francisco Morazán (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 5Route map of the Great White Fleet of the United Fruit Company, which held a monopoly on freight and passenger maritime transport to and from Puerto Barrios in Guatemala since 1903. (from History of Guatemala)
    Route map of the Great White Fleet of the United Fruit Company, which held a monopoly on freight and passenger maritime transport to and from Puerto Barrios in Guatemala since 1903. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 6Map of railway lines in Guatemala and El Salvador, owned by the IRCA, a subsidiary of the United Fruit Company that controlled the railroads in both countries. The only Atlantic port was controlled by the Great White Fleet, also a UFCO company. (from History of Guatemala)
    Map of railway lines in Guatemala and El Salvador, owned by the IRCA, a subsidiary of the United Fruit Company that controlled the railroads in both countries. The only Atlantic port was controlled by the Great White Fleet, also a UFCO company. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 7Chipilín Tamal, a common dish usually eaten at dinner. (from Culture of Guatemala)
    Chipilín Tamal, a common dish usually eaten at dinner. (from Culture of Guatemala)
  • Image 8Inauguration of Colonel Jacobo Árbenz as President of Guatemala, 1951. (from History of Guatemala)
    Inauguration of Colonel Jacobo Árbenz as President of Guatemala, 1951. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 9General Manuel José Arce; decorated Salvadoran General and president of the Federal Republic of Central America from 1825 to 1829. (from History of Guatemala)
    General Manuel José Arce; decorated Salvadoran General and president of the Federal Republic of Central America from 1825 to 1829. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 10Guatemalan National Penitentiary, built by Barrios to incarcerate and torture his political enemies (from History of Guatemala)
    Guatemalan National Penitentiary, built by Barrios to incarcerate and torture his political enemies (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 11Day laborers receiving their pay in Santa Rosa, circa 1890, as per the Day Laborer Regulations established by Barrios (from History of Guatemala)
    Day laborers receiving their pay in Santa Rosa, circa 1890, as per the Day Laborer Regulations established by Barrios (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 12Finance Center in 2011. In 1981, a powerful bomb exploded in the building's basement, leaving it without windows for several years. The owners, Industrial Bank, decided to keep the building open to the public as a defiant stance against the leftist guerrilla. (from History of Guatemala)
    Finance Center in 2011. In 1981, a powerful bomb exploded in the building's basement, leaving it without windows for several years. The owners, Industrial Bank, decided to keep the building open to the public as a defiant stance against the leftist guerrilla. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 13General Carrera, portrait celebrating the foundation of the Republic of Guatemala in 1847 (from History of Guatemala)
    General Carrera, portrait celebrating the foundation of the Republic of Guatemala in 1847 (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 14Captain General Rafael Carrera after being appointed president for Life of the Republic of Guatemala in 1854 (from History of Guatemala)
    Captain General Rafael Carrera after being appointed president for Life of the Republic of Guatemala in 1854 (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 15Criollos rejoice upon learning of the declaration of independence on 15 September 1821. Painting by Rafael Beltranena. (from History of Guatemala)
    Criollos rejoice upon learning of the declaration of independence on 15 September 1821. Painting by Rafael Beltranena. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 16Coat of arms of the state of Los Altos, carved in stone on the grave of heroes at the Cemetery of Quetzaltenango (from History of Guatemala)
    Coat of arms of the state of Los Altos, carved in stone on the grave of heroes at the Cemetery of Quetzaltenango (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 17Guatemalan territory during the conservative regimes of Rafael Carrera and Vicente Cerna. The Soconusco territories were ceded to Mexico in exchange for support during the Liberal revolution of 1871, as stipulated by the Herrera-Mariscal Treaty of 1882. (from History of Guatemala)
    Guatemalan territory during the conservative regimes of Rafael Carrera and Vicente Cerna. The Soconusco territories were ceded to Mexico in exchange for support during the Liberal revolution of 1871, as stipulated by the Herrera-Mariscal Treaty of 1882. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 18Chiltepe, a common pepper used on some Guatemalan dishes. (from Culture of Guatemala)
    Chiltepe, a common pepper used on some Guatemalan dishes. (from Culture of Guatemala)
  • Image 191861 map showing the boundary between British Honduras (now Belize) and Guatemala (from History of Guatemala)
    1861 map showing the boundary between British Honduras (now Belize) and Guatemala (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 20Plaza Central of Antigua Guatemala in 1829. The old "Palacio de la Capitanía General" remained in ruins following the 1773 earthquake. (from History of Guatemala)
    Plaza Central of Antigua Guatemala in 1829. The old "Palacio de la Capitanía General" remained in ruins following the 1773 earthquake. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 21Advertisement for the Marinalá power plant during the Árbenz government (from History of Guatemala)
    Advertisement for the Marinalá power plant during the Árbenz government (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 22Barrigones sculpture (from History of Guatemala)
    Barrigones sculpture (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 23Maya city of Tikal (from History of Guatemala)
    Maya city of Tikal (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 24Location of the Franja Transversal del Norte (Northern Transversal Strip) in Guatemala (from History of Guatemala)
    Location of the Franja Transversal del Norte (Northern Transversal Strip) in Guatemala (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 25Proclamation coin from 1847 of the independent Republic of Guatemala (from History of Guatemala)
    Proclamation coin from 1847 of the independent Republic of Guatemala (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 26Manuel Estrada Cabrera ruled Guatemala from 1898 to 1920. (from History of Guatemala)
    Manuel Estrada Cabrera ruled Guatemala from 1898 to 1920. (from History of Guatemala)
  • Image 27The Jurun Marinalá power plant was conceived during the Árbenz government to compete with the Electricity Company of Guatemala, which was then an American company using foreign oil instead of Guatemala's natural resources. Construction of the plant was not completed until 1968, fourteen years after Árbenz was removed in a CIA-sponsored coup d'état in 1954. (from History of Guatemala)
    The Jurun Marinalá power plant was conceived during the Árbenz government to compete with the Electricity Company of Guatemala, which was then an American company using foreign oil instead of Guatemala's natural resources. Construction of the plant was not completed until 1968, fourteen years after Árbenz was removed in a CIA-sponsored coup d'état in 1954. (from History of Guatemala)
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Departments

Departments and municipalities

Guatemala is divided into 22 departments (departamentos) and sub-divided into about 332 municipalities (municipios).

The departments include:

Departments of Guatemala
  1. Alta Verapaz
  2. Baja Verapaz
  3. Chimaltenango
  4. Chiquimula
  5. Petén
  6. El Progreso
  7. El Quiché
  8. Escuintla
  9. Guatemala
  10. Huehuetenango
  11. Izabal
  1. Jalapa
  2. Jutiapa
  3. Quetzaltenango
  4. Retalhuleu
  5. Sacatepéquez
  6. San Marcos
  7. Santa Rosa
  8. Sololá
  9. Suchitepéquez
  10. Totonicapán
  11. Zacapa
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  • Cinnamon hummingbird (Amazilia rutila) in flight Los Tarrales
    Cinnamon hummingbird (Amazilia rutila) in flight Los Tarrales
  • Emerald swift (Sceloporus malachiticus) Finca El Pilar
    Emerald swift (Sceloporus malachiticus) Finca El Pilar
  • Ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) male Peten
    Ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) male Peten

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The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:

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Guatemala news

The current date and time in Guatemala is Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 18:25.
News media:

Sources

  1. ^ Banco de Guatemala 1996.
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