Guatemala

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Republic of Guatemala
Justin Thomeczek and Liz Simpson
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Location
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Guatemala is located in Central America,
bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and
Belize, bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between El Salvador and Mexico.
15 30 N, 90 15 W
Capital Guatemala City
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Some Major Cities -Coban -Puerto Barrios -Puerto
San Jose -Quetzalte-nango
Landforms mostly mountains with narrow coastal
plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
highest point Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Resources petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish,
chicle, hydropower
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Place
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The Republic of Guatemala has a population of
13,314,079. It covers 108,890 square kilometers.
Languages spoken are primarily Spanish, but
closely followed by the local Amerindian language
s.
Its religions are Roman Catholic, Protestant,
and indigenous Mayan beliefs.
Guatemalas ethnic groups include Mestizos
(locally known as Ladino), Amerindian, whites,
and others.
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Man in Traditional Costume, Todos Santos,
Guatemala
Customs
Most groups are descendants of the Mayans and
have preserved their traditional clothing,
folklore and language.
Cintas are headbands in which women roll their
hair and then wrap them numerous times around
their heads. Many villages have their own
variation of colors, patterns.
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Homes Homes are most often rural large slums
comprised of shanties are most common.
Music Bands popped up throughout the day in the
most unlikely of places, creating an almost
permanent soundtrack to town life. The marimba,
like a giant wooden xylophone, was imported from
Africa at some point, and it is perhaps now the
most widely used instrument in traditional music
in Central America. Between one and three men can
play a marimba at one time, and sometimes it is
accompanied by guitar and drums.
Schools - Two levels of the school -
basico and magisterio -3 levels each - 6 levels
completed teaching qualified -
School year extends from January through October
National Holiday Independence Day, 15
September
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Food and Recreation
In general, people tend to spend a lot of their
leisure time socializing, although Cofradías
(religious fraternities dedicated to a particular
saint) offer a variety of recreational and
leisure activities to members, and in the cities
people enjoy watching television. The most
popular sports are soccer, basketball, and
volleyball.
People flock in from neighbouring villages and
hamlets in traditional dress to sell their
produce.
Maize tortillas are eaten with every meal. Other
foods common throughout Guatemala include black
beans, rice, tamales (maize meal or rice dough
stuffed with meat and tomato sauce), and fried
plátanos (bananas) with honey, cream, or black
beans. Meat (beef, pork, and chicken) is most
often stewed and served with sauces. Many
villages have developed their own unique dishes,
using ingredients found locally. Papayas and
breadfruit are among the wide variety of fruits
eaten in Guatemala. The poorest rural families
eat tortillas plus whatever food they can grow,
and food gathered in the forest.
Market days in Todos Santos
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Arts, Animals, and Music
Contemporary crafts such as weaving, jewelry
making, and ceramics combine Native American
design and color patterns with Spanish technical
skills. Among 20th-century Guatemalan artists of
international repute, the writers Enrique Gómez
Carrillo, Rafael Arévalo Martinez, Mario
Monteforte Toledo, and Miguel Ángel Asturias,
winner of the 1967 Nobel Prize in literature, are
preeminent. The 20th-century painters Carlos
Mérida, Alfredo Gálvez Suárez, and Valentín
Abascal have been inspired by the Native American
heritage of their nation.
Blue Throated Motmot (Momoto Gorjiazul)
Music of the Ladino population shows influences
of music from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and
the United States. Local corridos, ballads that
often narrate current events, are closely related
to the Mexican form of corrido. Mexican rancheras
and mariachi band music are also played by local
guitar and marimba ensembles.
National bird quetzal bird
Many animals, such as Red -Eyed Tree Frogs,
Royal Flycatcher, Rufous Tailed Jacamar, Sloth,
Spectacled Owl, Squirrel Monkey, and Toucan live
in the Tikal jungles.
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Weather Patterns numerous volcanoes in
mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes
Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to
hurricanes and other tropical storms
Climate tropical hot, humid in
lowlands cooler in highlands
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Relationships Within Places
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Adaptations Men and teenage boys can be seen
walking back from the forest with loads of
firewood lashed to horses or carried on their
backs with a strap over their foreheads.
Throughout the Altiplano, firewood remains the
principal means for cooking and heating. On cold
days women cover their shoulders with shawls.
Economic Issues Increasing government revenues,
negotiating further assistance from international
donors, increasing the efficiency and openness of
both government and private financial operations,
low international prices for main commodities, a
recent free trade agreement with Mexico, and
movements to protect international property
rights.
Energy Forms
fossil fuel 50.35 hydro 44.54 other 5.11
Use of Resources
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture,
chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber
Occupations
agriculture 50, industry 15, services 35
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Important People and Events
The very darkest years of counterinsurgency
brutality were from 1977 to 1982, when President
Efraín Ríos Montts infamous scorched earth
campaign annihilated villages whose inhabitants
were suspected of providing material support for
the guerrillas.  By the armys own calculations,
some 440 villages were wiped from the map during
this period.
In 1970 the presidency of Colonel Carlos Arana
Osorio secured the institutionalization of
terror  in a three-year period, fifteen thousand
Guatemalans suspected of sympathizing with the
insurgents were murdered or disappeared. 
The Peace Accord was signed in 1996, but there is
still repression against opposing views.
  In 1992 Rigoberta Menchú, the Mayan organizer
and testimonialist, received the Nobel Peace
Prize for the indigenous rights campaign that she
conducted on an international level while in
exile.
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Movement
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Transportation Infrastructure
- 884 km railways -
13,856 km highways - 990 km
waterways - 475 airports
Communication Infrastructure -
665,061 telephones - 835,000 radios
- 1,323,000,000 televisions
- 65,000 internet users
International Movement Primarily shipping
(Ports and harbors include Champerico, Puerto
Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, and Santo
Tomas de Castilla)
Population location Majority of population is
rural. URBAN POPULATION 40
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Transmitting Traditions

Older generations transmit tradition through
practice and teaching. For example, three
generations of weavers may teach the youngest
generation the skill while she is still a school
girl. Traditional weaving remains alive and well
in Santo Domingo Xenacoj and many other villages
in the highlands of Guatemala.
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Regions
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Government Constitutional democratic
republic, Formed with the creation of the
constitution in May of 1985.
Broken into municipalities of San Lucas,
Totolapa, Pantelhoâ Tumbalaâ Siltepec, La
Grandeza, Chanal, Sabanilla, Coapilla, Cancuc,
Tila, Bejucal, Bellavista, Rayon, Angel Albino
Corzo, Ocozocoautla, Simojovel, and others.
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To Visit
The best days of the year to visit Chichi are
November 1st, for "el Dia de Los Muertos." All
the families go to the cemetery to burn incense
and cover the tombs with flowers .
Antigua is the most visited destination in the
country. It was the most important city in New
Spain until the capitol was moved to present day
Guatemala City
Tikal, the anchient Mayan city of Guatemala
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