Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Land
Guatemala covers an area of 109,000 sq km - a little less than the US state of Louisiana, a
little more than England. Geologically, most of the country lies atop the North American
tectonic plate, but this abuts the Cocos plate along Guatemala's Pacific coast and the Carib-
bean plate in the far south of the country. When any of these plates gets frisky, earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions ensue. Hence the major quakes of 1773, 1917 and 1976 and the
spectacular chain of 30 volcanoes - some of them active - running parallel to the Pacific
coast from the Mexican border to the Salvadoran border. North of the volcanic chain rises
the Cuchumatanes range.
North of Guatemala City, the highlands of Alta Verapaz gradually decline to the lowland
of El Petén, occupying northern Guatemala. El Petén is hot and humid or hot and dry, de-
pending on the season. Central America's largest tracts of virgin rainforest straddle El
Petén's borders with Mexico and Belize, although this may cease to be true if conservation
efforts are not successful.
Northeast of Guatemala City, the valley of the Río Motagua (dry in some areas, moist in
others) runs down to Guatemala's short, very hot Caribbean coast. Bananas and sugarcane
thrive in the Motagua valley.
Between the volcanic chain and the Pacific Ocean is the Pacific Slope, with rich coffee,
cotton, rubber, fruit and sugar plantations, cattle ranches, beaches of black volcanic sand
and a sweltering climate.
Guatemala's unique geology also includes tremendous systems of caves. Water coursing
for eons over a limestone base created aquifers and conduits that eventually gave way to
subterranean caves, rivers and sinkholes when the surface water drained into underground
caverns and streams. This type of terrain (known as karst) is found throughout the Vera-
paces region and makes Guatemala a killer spelunking destination.
Les D Beletsky's
Belize & Northern Guatemala: The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide
is a comprehensive, all-in-one guide
to flora and fauna in the region. The book features hundreds of illustrations and photos and some welcome
splashes of humor.
