| |
|
|
| |
Home
>
World
> Central America
> Guatemala
|
General Information
Area: 108,889 sq km (42,042 sq miles).
Population: 11,385,334 (official estimate 2000).
Population Density: 104.6 per sq km (1996).
Capital: Guatemala City. Population: 1,015,303 (2000).
GEOGRAPHY: Guatemala is located in Central America and shares borders to the north and west with Mexico, to the southeast with El Salvador and Honduras, to the northeast with Belize and the Caribbean sea and to the south with the Pacific ocean. The landscape is predominantly mountainous and heavily forested. A string of volcanoes rises above the southern highlands along the Pacific, three of which are still active. Within this volcanic area are basins of varying sizes which hold the majority of the country’s population. The region is drained by rivers flowing into both the Pacific and the Caribbean. One basin west of the capital has no river outlet and thus has formed Lake Atitlán, which is ringed by volcanoes. To the northwest, bordering on Belize and Mexico, lies the low undulating tableland of El Petén, 36,300 sq km (14,000 sq miles) of almost inaccessible wilderness covered with dense hardwood forest. This area covers approximately one third of the national territory, yet contains only 40,000 people.
Government: Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821. Head of State and Government: President Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera since 2000.
Language: The official language is Spanish. English is widely spoken in tourist areas and major hotels and restaurants. Twenty-three indigenous languages are also spoken.
Religion: The constitution guarantees freedom of worship, but Catholicism is the most widespread religion with a 20 per cent Protestant minority. Some indigenous communities hold services combining Catholicism with pre-Columbian rites.
Time: GMT - 6.
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. There are some regional variations.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 502. Outgoing international code: 00. Telephone calls to Europe are slightly cheaper between 1900 and 0700.
Mobile telephone
Handsets can be hired from Ruracel and other companies. Some hotels also supply them. Coverage is increasing in Guatemala; consult network operator for details.
Fax
Most hotels have facilities.
Internet
There are several Internet cafes in Guatemala City and the main tourist areas. ISPs include GuateNet (website: www.guate.net).
Telegram
Local telegrams can be sent from the central post office. Urgent telegrams are charged at double the ordinary rate.
Post
Regular airmail to Europe takes 12 days.
Press
Publications include El Periódico, Prensa Libre, Siglo Veintiuno, Diario Centroamérica and La Hora. English-language publications include Guatemala Weekly, Central America Report ,Siglo News and The Review.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
