Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Guatemalaisthethird-largestcountryinCentralAmerica.Itoccupies42,042squaremiles,
making it about the size of Tennessee. The country shares borders with Mexico, Belize,
Honduras,andElSalvador.WithinGuatemala'srelativelysmallareaare14distinctecosys-
tems found at elevations varying from sea level to higher than 4,200 meters (14,000 feet).
Many people think of Guatemala as a sweltering tropical country, which is only partially
true. While it does feature warm tropical coastal environments and hot lowland jungles, a
rugged spine of mountains and volcanoes runs through the country's center. In the tropics,
elevation mostly determines climate and this is certainly the case in Guatemala. Temperat-
ures drop dramatically the higher you go in elevation and precipitation varies greatly de-
pending on what side of a mountain chain you're on. All of this translates into a dizzying
array of landscapes, making Guatemala a delight to explore.
The country divides rather neatly into various geographical zones. The volcanic high-
lands run through the country's center going west to east from Mexico to El Salvador. El-
evation tends to get lower closer to the Salvadoran border. The eastern areas of Alta and
Baja Verapaz are largely mountainous but also largely composed of limestone. A curious
feature ofthisarea,foundinitsnorthernlimits, isthepresence ofsmall, forestedlimestone
hills much like those found in parts of China. East from Guatemala City toward Honduras,
the terrain is largely dominated by semiarid flatlands covered in cactus.
