Guatemala

Central America and the Caribbean 
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize.

15 30 N, 90 15 W

"País de la Eterna Primavera" "Country of the Eternal Spring"
President Álvaro Colom Caballero	Vice President Rafael Espad

Capital

Guatemala City

Government
Presidential republic

Religion
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs.

Population
13,276,517

Ethnic group
Mestizo and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% .

National Language                    
Spanish, 22 indigenous languages.           

National Day
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Anthem
Himno Nacional de Guatemala

Currency
Quetzal (GTQ)

Attractions
Antigua, Chichicastenango, Flores, Lake Atitlan, Semuc Champey, Tikal....... 

Website     

Art & Cultural

The ICON

Tikal                                                                                               Tikal (or Tik’al according to the modern Mayan orthography) is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. Situated in the department of El Petén, the site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. Though monumental architecture at the site dates back as far as the 4th century BC, Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, ca. 200 to 900 AD. During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily, while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as the great metropolis of Teotihuacan in the distant Valley of Mexico. There is evidence that Tikal was conquered by Teotihuacan in the 4th century AD. Following the end of the Late Classic Period, no new major monuments were built at Tikal and there is evidence that elite palaces were burned. These events were coupled with a gradual population decline, culminating with the site’s abandonment by the end of the 10th century. Tikal is the best understood of any of the large lowland Maya cities, with a long dynastic ruler list, the discovery of the tombs of many of the rulers on this list and the investigation of their monuments, temples and palaces.

Tikal Temple