The Republic of Guatemala is a republic in Central America. It has a total area of 108,890 km2. The climate is tropical; hot and humid in the lowlands; cooler in the highlands. The terrain is mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestoneplateau (known as Peten). Natural resources are crude oil, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle. The religion is predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant and traditional Mayan. The language is Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian language as a primary tongue (there are 18 Indian dialects, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi).
Guatemala was the centre of the Maya civilisation between the 4tha nd 9th centuries, before being conquered by the Spanish and becoming the administrative centre of Spanish Central America from 1524 to 1821 when Guatemala proclaimed its independence from Spain and ecame part of the United Provinces of Central America until 1839. The Maya people still live in Guatemala, retaining their identity in the rural highlands. Research Guatemala
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
Research Guatemala