Antigua is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed for its architecture and preserved ruins. Its capital city, Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncin (Guatemala City), is the largest city in Central America. 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Even though Spanish is the official language, there are 23 officially recognized indigenous languages in Guatemala. 24. No#10: Guatemala city. The longest civil war in the history of Latin America, which was fought between military governments, right-wing vigilante groups and leftist rebels lasted a good 36 years. Did you know that Guatemala is home to the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site that combines both natural and cultural wonders? Despite being almost twice the size of Greater Manchester, Guatemala City has a population of around a similar total. 29. (Source: Britannica), 10. Tikal is one of world's great ancient wonders. Corrections? 22. Violent crime is a serious concern due to endemic poverty, an abundance of weapons, a legacy of societal violence, and weak law enforcement and judicial systems. Check out our language learning section. . Guatemala became independent in 1821. Guatemala City Cathedral, also called Metropolitan Cathedral is the main cathedral in the city. Guatemala has a rainy season and a dry season, 23. Additionally, while twenty- one Mayan languages are widely spoken throughout the highlands, Xinca, Arawakan and two non-Mayan Amerindian languages are spoken on the Caribbean coast. It is also regarded as the most beautiful lake in the world, serving as the countrys most important national and international tourist attraction. That's the county, not the city alone! 1873-85 - Guatemala ruled by liberal President Justo Rufino Barrios, who modernises the country, develops the army and introduces coffee growing. About firecrackers and bombing sounds. Guatemala City is so large, its actually split into multiple different zones. The most interesting facts about Guatemala include a rich indigenous culture and one of the most important sites of the Mayan civilisation. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America, 3. This was actually the Spaniards third try at making a capital city in this newly founded territory. Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncin, which is also the largest and capital city of Guatemala, is known as Guatemala City. Bartering skills are a must, and haggling is thoroughly expected. Italy has amazing, 31 FUN & Interesting Facts About Guatemala, 34 FUN and Interesting Facts About Bulgaria To Know, 30 FUN Tanzania Facts That Will Blow Your Mind, 33 FUN Facts About Turkey You Should Know. Guatemalan coins in circulation include 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos, and a 1 Quetzal coin. Im a travel and nature enthusiast. Heres my collection of 24 things to know about the diverse country of Guatemala. While U.S. dollars are accepted in Guatemala, it's a good idea keep smaller Quetzal bills on hand. Guatemala has plenty of noteworthy sites to explore. Land of the Maya. (Source: BBC News), 19. Home to much of Maya civilization, Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America, touching . A Rich Multilingual Country. Sports: one of the most popular sports in Guatemala is football (soccer). Coffee is the most-known export but bananas and sugar are also considered main products that are used both locally and exported to other countries. The capital city changed its location many times, 7. They account for over $2 billion and 20% of Guatemalas total exports. Points of Interest & Landmarks Parks. Ancient Mayan ruins nestled in the jungle, the colorful colonial town of Antigua, magnificent volcanoes all throughout the country. Here are some fun facts about Guatemala City that may just surprise you. If youre a wildlife and nature lover, youll love exploring Guatemalas green spaces. Elegant residential districts have grown up on the borders of the old city, particularly toward the south, and low-cost housing units have been constructed in various parts of the urban area. Its capital and largest city is Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncin, also known asGuatemala City. In the space of under three centuries the city, which was . Christmas in Guatemala. Guatemala City also dominates the cultural life of the country. Imagine these ancient ruins set against the lush jungle canopy and youll understand why they call this site mixed and why its one of the most visited places in the country. Belize officially became independent in 1981, but Guatemala did not acknowledge this until September 1991. Do Octopuses Have Bones? Over one-third of Guatemala is covered by forests. Here are 12 surprising things about Tikal: 1.) Inhabited 13,000 Years. Coffee from Guatemala is said to be the best in the world and if youve ever tried it, youve likely tasted the difference because it stands out from any other coffee from anywhere else in the world. Fortunately for visitors and locals alike, only three of the countrys 37 volcanoes are active so its safe to think that you will visit most of them without the worry of an eruption happening while youre there. Volcn Tajumulco stands tall at 13,850 feet (4,220 meters), making it the highest peak in all of Central America. In ancient Mayan times, the feathers of this bird were used as currency. The country has the second-largest concentration of Ozone. Ethnicity, Language, And Religion In Guatemala. Guatemalan Indian-rights activist, Rigoberta Mench, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1992. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The modern city was largely rebuilt after the disastrous earthquakes of 191718, which shook the city intermittently for six weeks. See Four Magnificent Volcanoes. Hilachas. Guatemala is one of the most interesting countries we have traveled to. It has four bordering countries that include Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico. There are eight coffee regions in the country and the coffee grown in each one is unique from all the others. Its thought that 1.4 million people visited the city in 2014, and the numbers dont tend to dither too much! One of the most popular sports in Guatemala is football (soccer). Here are some fun facts about Guatemala City that may just surprise you. 1. Marimba is the national instrument of Guatemala. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This page was last modified on August 11, 2022. Guatemala is the third-largest country in Central America and the 105th largest country in the world. Spanish is the official language of Guatemala. Flag. Updates? Your first clue of that will be the guards with pump-action shotguns outside every store, followed closely by the prodigious amounts of razor wire strewn over everything. Guatemala City, Guatemala is located at Guatemala country in the Cities place category with the gps coordinates of 14 37' 42.3624'' N and 90 31' 21.7668'' W. Coordinates of Guatemala City, Guatemala is given above in both decimal degrees and DMS . Guatemala geographical features more than other city. The unique flavors and textures of traditional dishes come from a variety of spices mixed with vegetables, meats, dry chillies and tropical fruit. Motagua River is the longest river in Guatemala. Heres how to order food in Spanish. In addition, every village celebrates the day of their Patron Saint, where cultural activities such as a presentation of crafts, processions and folkloric dances take place. Some amazing facts about Guatemala. To date, two people from Guatemala have won the Nobel Prize. 32 Fun Facts About Italy You Should Know. Guatemala is not only bordered by the four countries of Mexico, El Salvador, Belize and Honduras; its also bordered by two of the worlds largest oceans, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Guatemala City is said to suffer from poverty as a result of uneven income across the state - with 5% of the country controlling all but 15% of the wealth. With a fascinating history and breathtaking nature, Guatemala has a lot to offer. If youre flying out to Guatemala City, it may be worth taking note of the longitude and latitude! Standing at 11,598 feet . 2. The countries of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica all use permutations of the design in their flags. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 3. 49. More than 1,000,000 were forced to leave their home. Sun: 7 hrs per day (sunshine) / 11.3 hrs per day (daylight) Rain: 7mm per month. Cuisine: Guatemala cuisine is primarily based on Mayan and Spanish cuisine and prominently includes beans, corn, and chilies as key ingredients in their food recipes. Tikal National Park is the worlds first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site. . There are around 22 different zones that the city splits into though some dont actually exist thanks to border clashes. 1. Guatemala knew 36 years of civil war. If you'd like to learn more visit the about us page. The picturesque town of Antigua, the ancient Maya city of Quirigua and Tikal National Park all have something very important in common; they are the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites that can be found in Guatemala. By the end of the civil war, 200,000 citizens were dead. Guatemala is home to a population of around 16,581,273 people. Guatemala City is generally famous for its sheer size - though also for its banking and transport prowess, too. Guatemala City is surprisingly large. 32. 51. It is also the third-largest country in Central America behind Nicaragua and Honduras. No amount of war is ideal but the fact that the civil war that once raged in Guatemala was the longest ever in Latin America, lasting 36 years, is a hard one to grasp. The country features over 10,000 plants and over 3,000 wildlife species. In addition to the government offices and services concentrated there, Guatemala City handles nearly half of the capital invested in the country and accounts for more than half of the industrial establishments and production of the republic. Antigua Guatemala, the previous capital, had been devastated completely by an earthquake. Learn more about other Spanish-speaking countries. Guatemala means 'land of the trees'. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Guatemala-City, Guatemala City - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Guatemala City - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Read More 19 Interesting & Fun Facts about Iowa State | What is Known for?Continue, Read More Fun Facts About Vermont | 35 Things You Might Not KnowContinue, Read More 70 Interesting & Fun Facts about Barbados | Why Famous for?Continue, Read More 50+ Interesting Facts About Austin TexasContinue, Read More Most 21 Interesting & Funny Facts about Nevada that Nobody KnowContinue, Read More 30 Interesting & Fun Facts about Maryland State | What is Known for?Continue, Your email address will not be published. Similarly, speaking loudly in public is looked down upon. Open now. While traditional clothing is worn often by the poorer Guatemalans, Ladinos prefer wearing western- style outfits. Guatemala City, Spanish Guatemala or in full Ciudad de Guatemala, capital of Guatemala, the largest city in Central America, and the political, social, cultural, and economic centre of Guatemala. Therefore, Guatemala City was completely rebuilt in its stead. 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