Geography of Guatemala

Guatemala is mountainous, except for the south coastal area and the northern vast lowlands of Petén department. Two mountain chains enter Guatemala from west to east, dividing the country into three major regions: the highlands, where the mountains are located; the Pacific coast, south of the mountains; and the Petén region, north of the mountains. These areas vary in climate, elevation, and landscape, providing dramatic contrasts between hot and humid tropical lowlands and highland peaks and valleys.

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[edit]Overview

Guatemalan Highlands

The southern edge of the western highlands is marked by the Sierra Madre, which stretches from the Mexican border south and east, and continues at lower elevations toward El Salvador. The mountain chain is characterized by steep volcanic cones, including Tajumulco Volcano (4,220 m/13,845 ft), the highest point in the country andCentral America. All of Guatemala’s 37 volcanoes (4 of them active Pacaya, Santiaguito, Fuego and Tacaná), are in this mountain chain, and are frequent in the highlands.

The northern chain of mountains begins near the Mexican border with the Cuchumatanes range, then stretches east through the Chuacús and Chamá sierras, down to the Santa Cruz and Minas sierras, near the Caribbean Sea. The northern and southern mountains are separated by the Motagua valley, where the Motagua river and its tributaries drains from the highlands into the Caribbean being navigable in its lower end, where it forms the boundary with Honduras.

Its climate is hot and humid in the Pacific and Petén Lowlands – more temperate in the highlands, to freezing cold at the high of the Cuchumatanes range, and hot/drier in the easternmost departments.

Semuc Champey pools in the Cahabòn River,Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

The rivers are short and shallow in the Pacific vertient, larger and deeper, such as the Polochic which drains inLake Izabal, Río Dulce, Motagua and Sarstún that forms the boundary with Belize in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico vertient (Usumacinta, which forms the boundary between Chiapas, Mexico and Petén and its tributaries such as La Pasión and San Pedro.

All major cities are in the Highlands and the Pacific Lowlands. Major cities are the capital Guatemala City, elevation 1,506 m (Central Highlands), Quetzaltenango elevation 2,011 m (Western Highlands), Escuintla elevation 300 m,Mazatenango elevation 220 m and Coatepeque elevation 515 m, (Pacific Lowlands). The largest lake Lago de Izabal (589.6 km²), is close to the Caribbean coast. Volcán Tajumulco, 4,220 m, the highest point in Central America, is located in the western department of San Marcos.

Guatemala's location on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean makes it a target for hurricanes, includingHurricane Mitch in 1998 and Hurricane Stan in October 2005, which killed more than 1,500 people. (The damage was not wind related, but caused by floodings and landslides). The last major earthquake was on February 4, 1976, killing more than 23,000 in the Central Highlands (see also: Earthquakes in Guatemala).

[edit]Geographic data

Topography of Guatemala

Location

Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico

Geographic coordinates

15°30′N 90°15′W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

Total: 108,890 km²
Land: 107,940 km²

Land boundaries

Total: 1,687 km
Border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Coastline

400 km

Maritime claims

Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370 km)
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain

Mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)

Elevation extremes

Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Volcán Tajumulco 4,220 m

Natural resources

Petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Land use

Arable land: 12%
Permanent crops: 5%
Permanent pastures: 24%
Forests and woodland: 54%
Other: 5% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land

1,250 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

Several active volcanoes, occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms, causing floodings, mudflows and landslides

Environment—current issues

Deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment—international agreements