GuatemalaBy Julia Blike

Neighboring Countries

1. Belize

2. Mexico

3. Honduras

4. El Salvador

Ethnic Groups

1. Quiche

2. Cakchiquel

3. Kekchi

4. Ixil

5. Mam

6. Garifuna

Language

Spanish

English

Sports

Soccer

Volleyball

Basketball

Cuisine

Tortillas are eaten with every meal

Black beans, rice, and fried bananas are common sides

Meat includes chicken, pork, and beef

Most meat is stewed

Dishes are typically spicy

Influence is Spanish

Government

Democratic Republic

President is Alvaro Colom

Congress of the Republic has 158 seats

Legislators serve four terms

Supreme Court and judicial branch exist but do not function the way they should

Holidays

January 1st: New Year’s Day

March-April: Holy Week

September 15th: Independence Day

November 1st: All Saints Day

December 7th: The Burning of the Devil

December 25th: Christmas Day

December 31st: New Year’s Eve

Climate and Weather

Hot and dry in the central areas

Hot and humid by the coast

Days are warm and nights are cool

The average temperature is 75°F

November-April is the dry season

May-October is wet season

Physical Features Guatemala has 32 active volcanoes

Very mountainous

Major bodies of water include Lake Atitlan, Lake Izabal, Lake Peten Itza, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Honduras, and the Pacific Ocean

Currency

The currency in Guatemala is the Quetzal

1 US dollar = 8.31 Guatemalan Quetzal

Flag

The Guatemalan flag represents land surrounded by water

The symbol inside is the national emblem

Major Cities

Capitol: Guatemala City

Other Major Cities:

Antigua

Quetzaltenango

Escuintla