Guatemala: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Guatemala |
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Background:
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Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had led to the death of more than 100,000 people and had created some 1 million refugees. |
| Geography | Guatemala |
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Location:
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Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 30 N, 90 15 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 108,890 sq km
water: 460 sq km land: 108,430 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Tennessee |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km |
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Coastline:
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400 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten) |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 12.54%
permanent crops: 5.03% other: 82.43% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,250 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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no natural harbors on west coast |