What are some Interesting Facts About Guatemala City for Kids?
Guatemala is a Central American state known for its mixed cultures from the colonial period, as well as cultures of both Mayan and Spanish. Changing climate is also its top topic. With many languages & natural beauty Mount Guatemala is a very popular tourist destination. So let’s know What is Guatemala Famous for & Interesting Facts About Guatemala City.
Fast Facts | Important Information of Guatemala
Official name: Republic of Guatemala
Capital city: Guatemala City
Population: 17,153,288
Area: 108,889 sq km
Major languages: Spanish, Maya languages
Time zone: UTC-6 (Central Time Zone)
(Source: CIA World Fact Book)
Interesting Facts About Guatemala
What is Guatemala Famous for?
No#1: Languages
There are 21 Mayan languages (a language family spoken in Mesoamerica and northern Central America by at least 6 million Maya peoples) spoken in Guatemala. However, Spanish is their official language.
No#2: The currency of Guatemala
Guatemalan Quetzal—is named after the beautiful Quetzal bird. In ancient Mayan times, the feathers of this bird were used as currency.
No#3: Blue denim
One interesting fact about Guatemala is that Blue denim comes from the country!
No#4: Coffee making
The instant coffee process was invented in Guatemala by George Washington, an inventor, and businessman of Anglo-Belgian origin.
Fun Facts about Guatemala
No#5: Chocolate bar
Do you like chocolate bars? The first ever chocolate bar was also invented in Guatemala during the Mayan times. Chocolate residue dating back to 460-480 AD was found in a vessel in Guatemala.
No#6: Ozone layer
The country has the second-largest concentration of Ozone. Ozone is a gas which is available both in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (stratosphere) and at ground level (troposphere).
Historical Facts about Guatemala
No#7: Guatemala’s conquered
Guatemala was conquered by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in 1524.
No#8: Longest civil war
The longest civil war in the history of Latin America, which was fought between military governments, right-wing vigilante groups and leftist rebels lasted a good 36 years.
No#9: People died
By the end of civil war, 200,000 citizens were dead.
Cool Facts about Guatemala
No#10: Guatemala city
Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, which is also the largest and capital city of Guatemala, is known as Guatemala City.
No#11: Famous things
Are you know what is Guatemala famous for? Guatemala is known for its steep volcanoes, vast rainforests, and ancient Mayan sites.
No#12: Nobel prize winner
Miguel Ángel Asturias Rosales (October 19, 1899 – June 9, 1974) was a Nobel Prize-winning Guatemalan poet-diplomat, novelist, playwright and journalist.
No#13: Highest violent rates
Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America. The country saw 6,000 violent deaths in 2014. And an average of 101 murders per week was reported in 2016. For a detailed report on crime in the country, as well as some safety tips, read this page.
No#14: Longest river
Motagua River is the longest river in Guatemala. It measures approximately 250 miles. The river is a major transportation artery for coffee, bananas and other fruits that are raised in the valleys of the country’s eastern region.
No#15: Deepest lake
Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán is the deepest lake in Central America, with a maximum depth of about 340 meters. It is also regarded as the most beautiful lake in the world, serving as the country’s most important national and international tourist attraction.
→The beauty of the lake was praised by two prominent people in history: one being the German explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, and the other being Aldous Huxley.
No#16: Highest point
Tajumulco Volcano, the highest point in the country and Central America, is 4203 m above sea level.
No#17: Number of volcanoes
There are more than 30 volcanoes in Guatemala, out of which three are active.
No#18: Some volcanoes
Suchitan, Ixtepeque, Acatenango, Atitlan, Moyuta, Agua, Cerro Santiago, Tajumulco, Chingo, Quezaltepeque, Chiquimula, Cuilapa-Barbarena, Flores, Fuego, IpalaVolc Field, Santa Maria, Almolonga, Santo Tomas, Tahual, Pacaya, Tecuamburro and Toliman are the names of some of the volcanoes from the region.
No#19: Active volcanoes
The active volcanoes in Guatemala include – Fuego, Pacaya and Santiaguito.
No#20: Biggest business
The export of coffee is the country’s biggest business. Almost 50% of Guatemalans are employed in agricultural activities.
Guatemala Cultural Facts
No#21: Tourism
Tourism is the second-largest industry in the country, employing approximately 35% of its population.
Important Facts about Guatemala
No#22: Commercial center
Guatemala City is the industrial and commercial center of the country, employing the remaining 15% of the population.
No#23: Reason of uneven development
The unequal distribution of land and wealth in the country is the biggest reason for uneven development in the region.
No#24: Leading producer
The country is also the world’s leading producer of Jade.
Guatemala Facts and Information
No#25: Income
Fourteen percent (14%) of Guatemalans live on less than $1.25 US a day.
No#26:About remittance
Guatemala is the top remittance recipient in Central America as a result of Guatemala’s large expatriate community in the US.
No#27: World heritage
There are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Guatemala. These sites include Antigua Guatemala, Tikal national Park, Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua. Tikal National Park is the world’s first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Weird Facts about Guatemala
No#28: Writer of national anthem
The national anthem of Guatemala was not written by a Guatemalan, but by a Cuban – José Joaquín Palma. However, it was composed by Rafael ÁlvarezOvalle.
Guatemala Geography Facts
No#29: How many people visit
Guatemala geographical features more than other city. More than 1.2 million people visit Guatemala every year.
No#30: Religion
Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Guatemala followed by nearly 50% of the country’s population. However, Evangelical Protestantism and later Orthodoxy have become popular in the recent decade.
The Oriental Orthodoxy and the Eastern Orthodox Church claim rapid growth, especially in the native Maya people.
Interesting Things about Guatemala
No#31: Cuisine
Guatemala cuisine is primarily based on Mayan and Spanish cuisine and prominently includes beans, corn, and chilies as key ingredients in their food recipes. Pachas (a kind of tamale made from potatoes) is a common dish in Guatemala eaten usually on Thursdays.
No#32: Street food
Now here going to know about guatemala food facts. A set of roasted corns is one of the typical street foods in Guatemala, eaten with salt and lemon.
Guatemala Quick Facts
No#33: National beer
The national beer of Guatemala is Gallo.
No#34: Beverages
Locals in Guatemala prefer to drink coffee weak and sweet with little milk. Apart from drinking fruit juices, Guatemalans also love drinking fruit shakes, commonly referred as “licuados”.
No#35: Clothes
Guatemalan clothing facts: The Mayan people are known to wear bright colored shirts, blouses, dresses, and capes. Each village has its own individualist pattern, making it easy to identify the village of the person by the design of his or her clothes.
While traditional clothing is worn often by the poorer Guatemalans, Ladinos prefer wearing western- style outfits.
No#36: Family life
Families in Guatemala share a close bond with each other and remain that way their entire lives. The typical rural family of Guatemala is hard – working.
While men work in the fields, women raise their children and weave beautiful textiles with motifs that are unique to each community.
No#37: Music
The music of Guatemala is diverse and includes several styles and expressions. Marimba is the national instrument of Guatemala.
While the Garifuna people of the Afro-Caribbean descent have their own varieties of folk music, lower classes enjoy the Cumbia, a dance oriented music genre.
No#38 : Sports
One of the most popular sports in Guatemala is football (soccer). In addition, Guatemalans also enjoy an activity known as Spelunking where they go and explore the caves.
Outdoor sports such as rafting, white- water rafting; kayaking and volcano climbing are also preferred.
No#39: Day of death
Guatemalans celebrate “Dia de losMuertos,” or the Day of the Dead, every first November. On this day, Guatemalans visit the local cemetery and fly kites in memory of their loved ones. People also paint the gravestones of their relatives with bright colors.
No#40: National bird & flower
The Quetzal is the national bird & White Nun Orchid (Monja Blanca) is thenational flower of Guatemala.
Congratulation! You complete. Which one touch you most leave a comment below.
