The landscape is predominantly mountainous and heavily forested, with narrow coastal plains and tropical, humid lowlands blanketed in rainforests, coffee and banana plantations. A string of volcanoes rises above the southern highlands along the Pacific, four of which are still active.
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How is the landscape in Guatemala?
Amid these mountains, Guatemala’s landscape is coursed with caves, caverns, sinkholes, and underground rivers. Non-mountainous regions of the country include the narrow Pacific and Caribbean coastal plains, and a limestone plateau in the Petén, which is geographically part of the Yucatán.
What type of terrain is in Guatemala?
Guatemala Geography
| Geographic Location | Central America |
|---|---|
| Terrain | mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten) |
| Highest Point | 4,211 Meters |
| Highest Point Location | Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m |
| Lowest Point Location | Pacific Ocean 0 m |
What is Guatemala’s climate like?
Guatemala has a tropical climate, and weather that is largely determined by geography and altitude. The highlands tend to be cooler than the coastal areas and lowlands. You’ll find comfortable spring-like temperatures in major cities like La Antigua, Guatemala City, and Quetzaltenango throughout much of the year.
What is most of the terrain land like in Guatemala?
East from Guatemala City toward Honduras, the terrain is largely dominated by semiarid flatlands covered in cactus. Closer to the Caribbean coast in the department of Izabal, the terrain once again becomes lush and largely filled with banana plantations.
What are the mountains in Guatemala called?
The Sierra Madre de Chiapas is a crystalline range of block mountains extending to the southeast along the Pacific coast from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into western Guatemala (where it is called the Sierra Madre).
How much coastline does Guatemala have?
Geography of Guatemala
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Coastline | 400 km (250 mi) |
| Borders | total: 1,667 km (1,036 mi) |
| Highest point | Tajumulco Volcano 4,220 m or 13,845 ft} |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean 0 m |
What plants are in Guatemala?
Native Plants Of Guatemala
| Native Plants of Guatemala | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Ilama Fruit Tree | Annona diversifolia |
| Sweet Scented Lycaste | Lycaste aromatica |
| Netleaf Oak | Quercus rugosa |
| White Sapote | Casimiroa edulis |
What are some famous landforms in Guatemala?
- The Western Highlands. Most visitors to Guatemala make a beeline for the western highlands, and well they should.
- Pacific Coast. Although beaches are definitely not the main draw in Guatemala, there are 300 kilometers (186 miles) of black-sand coast on the Pacific side of the country.
- Caribbean Coast.
- The Peten Jungle.
How does geography affect Guatemala?
Guatemala’s mountainous terrain, tropical latitude and small size limit the country’s influence in the Caribbean basin as compared to stronger North American neighbors. The Sierra Madre Mountains stretch from Mexico into Guatemala, forming the majority of the country’s territory.
What is winter like in Guatemala?
Winter, or the rainy season, lasts from May to October. The skies are normally a mix of sunshine and clouds, and travelers to Guatemala can expect periodic short tropical downpours in the late afternoons, clearing for the evening.
Is Guatemala mountainous?
Only slightly larger than the U.S. state of Tennessee, Guatemala is a mountainous country with one-third of the population living in cool highland villages. The coastal lowlands are warm and humid. The country is bordered by Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize.
What are 5 interesting facts about Guatemala?
11 Surprising Cultural Facts You Didn’t Know About Guatemala
- The national bird lends its name to the Guatemalan currency.
- Guatemala means “land of many trees”
- It has been inhabited for 20,000 years.
- 22 languages are spoken in the country.
- The CIA overthrew a socialist government in 1954.
Does Guatemala have desert?
There are no deserts in Guatemala.
Is Guatemala a third world country?
In summary, Guatemala is a third world country. Even though it is a beautiful country with plenty of attractions, it continues to struggle with the effects of its long civil war. During the cold war, Guatemala was not a part of the east and west conflict.
Does Guatemala have snow?
With that moniker, it should come as no surprise that there is no snowfall across the majority of Guatemala. Even in the populated areas of the highlands including Antigua, Guatemala City, Lago de Atitlan and Chichicastenango, the temperature rarely drops below 55.4 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius).
What ocean is in Guatemala?
Pacific Ocean
Guatemala is bounded to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize and (along a short coastline) by the Gulf of Honduras, to the east by Honduras, to the southeast by El Salvador, and to the south by the Pacific Ocean.
What is Guatemala famous for?
Guatemala is best known for its volcanic landscape, fascinating Mayan culture and the colorful colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But this small Central American country has a wealth of homegrown produce and talent.
What is Guatemala culture?
The culture of Guatemala reflects strong Mayan and Spanish influences and continues to be defined as a contrast between poor Mayan villagers in the rural highlands, and the urbanized and relatively wealthy mestizos population (known in Guatemala as ladinos) who occupy the cities and surrounding agricultural plains.
Does Guatemala have a coastline?
A sweltering strip of low-lying, tropical land, some 300km long and 50km wide, Guatemala’s Pacific coast is usually known as La Costa Sur.The main attraction should be the coastline, though as the sand is black and the ocean has a dangerous undertow this region is not a big draw for travellers.
How long is the Guatemala coastline?
about 250 km long
The Pacific coast of Guatemala is about 250 km long and consists essentially of sandy beaches, beach ridges and dunes, with no cliffs. The coastline is gently curving because sand supplied by longshore drift has sealed former inlets. Some are now lagoons, bordered by mangroves or bare hypersaline tidal flats.
