GUATEMALA
(Republic of Guatemala)

Capital: Guatemala city (Guatemala City)
Area: 108,889 sq.km.
Population: 17,263,239 persons.
Currency: Quetzal (GTQ)

GEOGRAPHY

Guatemala occupies the space in 42 042 square kilometers (108 889 square kilometers) and is limited in the West and the North to Mexico; in the east - Belize, the Caribbean Sea, Honduras and El Salvador; and in the south of the Pacific Ocean. Three main regions - northern plains Pena and the Atlantic coastal areas adjoining to him; the volcanic uplands Sierra-Madre crossing the country from the northwest on the southeast; and the Pacific lowland, the coastal plain stretching along all southern border. The country has in total 205 miles (330 kilometers) of the coastline. Between the river of Motagua and Honduran border in the southeast there is a dry flat corridor which receives less than forty inches (hundred centimeters) from a rain in a year. Though the country is in tropics, its climate considerably varies depending on height and an amount of precipitation. Northern lowlands and the Atlantic coastal area very warm also experience a rain during the most part of year. The Pacific lowlands drier, and therefore that they are at sea level or near it, remain warm. Moderate uplands. The most cool weather (local "winter") meets during a rainy season from May or June to November, daily temperature from 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit at higher heights and from 60 to 70 degrees in Guatemala that approximately in mile above sea level.

CULTURE

In Central America citizens of each country are tenderly known by nickname of which they are proud, but which are sometimes used scornfully by others, the same as the term "Yankee". The term "Chapin" (plural, "Chapines") which origin is unknown designates any of Guatemala. Traveling out of borders of Guatemala, all her citizens define themselves as Guatemalans and/or Chapina. Though house, however, there isn't enough sense that they have the general culture. The most important split between Ladino and Indians. Garifuna are almost not known from the Atlantic coast and, as well as most of Indians, identify themselves from the point of view of the language and culture.

RELIGION

The Roman Catholicism which was entered by Spaniards and is modified by interpretations of the Maya and syncretism was almost universal in Guatemala before the beginning of the 20th century when the Protestantism began to move ahead considerably among Latinos and the Maya. Today it was counted that, perhaps, 40 percent also more adhere to Protestant church or sect, beginning from the established churches with the international membership and finishing with the small local groups celebrating an own set of beliefs under the leadership of pastors.