by Dan Evon

Created on: September 18, 2009

"The land of the trees," in Maya-Toltec tongue, Guatemala is a beautifully forested country that rests just south of Mexico between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. On the Guatemalan flag, the coat of arms is bordered by two strips of blue. These strips represent the two bodies of water that surround Guatemala. Guatemala is also the only country in Central America that did not adopt a Spanish name, and instead retained the name given to it by its earliest settlers, the Mayans.

GEOGRAPHY

The northern region is densely populated by rain forests, and thinly populated by people. It is also the region where some of the most interesting Mayan artifacts are found. Tikal, the city of voices, is found in the Northern part of Guatemala. Some 3000 structures are found in Tikal and many more are believed to be burried in the rain forest.

The highest mountain in Central America is also found in Guatemala. Volcan Tajumulco rises to 13,845 feet above sea level. It is but one of many volcanoes that make up the Guatemalan Highlands. Many of the volcanoes are active, and could possibly erupt, or start earthquakes. The Highlands are the most populated area of Guatemala.

ECONOMY

Guatemala is considered to be a developing country. Over half of its people live below the poverty line, and most live on less then 7 dollars a day. Guatemala exports coffee, bananas, and sugar. In 2006 a free trade agreement with The United States boosted the countries economy.

WORRY DOLLS

Worry dolls are important aspect of Guatemalan life, especially for children. A worry doll is usually made from scraps, and is minuscule in size. Children tell their worry dolls all their worries before they go to bed, in hopes that the worry doll will take care of them while they sleep.

MAYANS

We may never fully understand the Mayans. How these magnificent cities were built, and why they were destroyed. But the ruins with in Guatemala give us clues to solve the mystery. A little less then 50% of Guatemalans are indigenous to the area, but still the ancient ruins are a mystery. Chichicastenango is a small town in Guatemala that hosts a market every week. Here you can find artifacts, hand made crafts, and stories of the ancient people.

INTERESTING EXTRAS

There are 21 different Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala. Spanish, however is the official language.

Guatemala has the second highest concentration of Ozone.

Tapado is a popular Guatemalan casserole which consists of seafood, plantains, coconut milk and vegetables.

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