Guatemala City is the capital city of the country, Guatemala.It is the biggest city in all of Central America. Guatemala City is the economical, cultural, social, and political hub of the country.The country itself has come a long way since it was first inhabited by the Mayan civilization. It has become one of the leading nations in all of Central America. It has seen different empires plant their feet, then lead themselves out during a revolution. More than that it has survived internal conflicts and continues to stay strong.If you like reading articles such as this one about Guatemala City facts, why not read these articles about Guinea facts and Alabama’s state flower on Kidadl!Society And CultureGuatemala City is the hub of society and culture of the country. It is a historic center of everything that has happened in Central America.One of the most notable public buildings in the city is the National Library. It has over 150,000 documents relating to not only Guatemala, but other countries in Central America.Guatemalan culture has strong inputs from Mexico, owing largely to the stint it spent in the Mexican empire. During this time, Guatemala City was the capital following the formation of the independent republic that would go on to be Guatemala.The wealthy typically live like people in other metropolitan cities, while the other part of the city sees an opposite way of life. Traditional ways of preserving culture is observed, and communities are seen to be close knit through market life.The smaller villages inside Guatemala City preserve their culture and traditions with hand-made pottery to store and transport vegetables in.The contrast between the wealthy and the poor is also seen reflected in the health care system. In rural areas, health care is still inadequate.Geographical Facts About GuatemalaThe geography about Guatemala is interesting due to several different reasons. The country of Guatemala is the northern most country in Central America.The coastlines of the country are with two major water bodies, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.The regions can roughly be divided into four different sections, the first being a plateau that is made up mostly of forests and trees. Another part is the coastline that consists of tropical coastal lands.The third region that makes up Guatemala is the southern volcanic belt. While there are about 33 volcanoes that are littered all over the country, most of them are inactive. The Pacaya volcano, which is about 27 mi (43.4 km) from Guatemala City, does have the occasional lava flow. Another volcano that can be seen from Guatemala City is Fuego. The fourth region is the central-western highlandsGuatemala City itself is located in the region that is in the valley of the south-central highlands.Guatemala City is about 4,897 ft (1,492.6 m) above sea level.In addition to the two volcanoes mentioned before, there are two other volcanoes that can be seen from the city.Guatemala City can be deemed a modern city that has come a long way from the Maya civilization that would once lived in this area. However, some areas of the city that are built on the edge of steep valleys do face threats. They are frequently washed away during periods of heavy rainfall due to mudslides.Guatemala City has itself been divided into several zones that have their own avenues and streets. It is a large urban area that is rapidly growing, engulfing any small town in the vicinity. This is evident as several neighbouring towns such as Mixco, Villa Nueva as well as Santa Catarina became a part of Guatemala City. The suburban area of Carretera a El Salvador is one of the prime areas for living as well as for businesses to locate in the city.One of the zones, Zone 10, is the financial district of the city. It is perhaps the most liveliest parts of the city as most sources of entertainment are located here. It is also home to the embassies of other countries, business centers, hotels, restaurants, bars, sports clubs, and other similar establishments.Another zone is Zone 1. This is the historic center of the largest city in Central America. Zone 1 is home to the Central Park, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Library, and the National Palace of Guatemala. The name for the National Palace is the Palacio Nacional.Facts About Trade, Tourism, And The EconomyWhat is tourism like in Guatemala City, and what are some things to remember if you were to visit?Tourism is a double edged sword when it comes to Guatemala. The city itself is a reminder as shanty towns are located next to towering skyscrapers.While the city itself is unforgettable, it is often avoided by people due to how dangerous the city is. The streets of the capital have become hotspots for crime and have scared people into not visiting Guatemala City altogether. They find Antigua a much more preferred visiting place.If you do decide to visit Guatemala City, here are a few things to do and remember. There are two museums which are home to Maya artifacts in the country. You can also visit the Mercado Central and try bargaining with vendors for their local handicrafts.There is also a scale replica of the Eiffel Tower here, as well as botanical gardens that can make for a fun day out in Guatemala City.You can top it off by going for a night out, and visit the bars and discotheques in Zone 10.A piece of advice is to take beginner lessons in Spanish, which is the official language of Guatemala, so you do not feel completely lost when talking to locals, and are able to ask for directions and greet people you meet in Guatemala.Economy And FinanceThe economy of the country is one of the most important parts to know. The country of Guatemala has a GDP per capita of $5100. This is about half of the GDP per capita of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. These are some of the benchmark countries from South America.This might be due to the population density of Guatemala. The country is one of the most populous in Central America. The most important change to the economy were the Peace Accords that ended the civil war. After the end of the civil war in Guatemala, foreign investment started flowing into the country.This was the first step that Guatemala took toward stabilizing its economy and achieving its macroeconomic aims.The most important sector for Guatemala is its primary sector. The exports from this sector are a major contributor to the GDP of the country. Additionally, the agriculture sector makes for about one tenth of the GDP of the country. It is also two fifth of the total exports of the country. Some of the more popular exports are sugar, bananas and coffee.One of the critical flaws about the way that the Guatemalan economy works is the heavy centralization. Most economic activities that take place are seen to be prominently in the urban area of Guatemala City. Transport, business, politics, and other urban activities remain reserved for the city itself.There is only one major highway that provides access to most of the communities in Guatemala. Additionally, some coastal regions can only be reached by using boats.An important facet of the economy of Guatemala is the distribution of income within the country itself. 56% percent of the country’s population continues to live under the poverty line. The government lacks the ability to provide monetary benefits as its revenue streams are underfed.A huge shadow economy exists in Guatemala, filled largely with drug trafficking and crime.Structure And GrowthThe structure of Guatemala is interesting because of the vivid history that the country has.The country itself was part of empires in the past. Now, it is a constitutional republic. The president serves as the head of the government, as well as the chief of state.The president’s term lasts for a period of four years, and consecutive terms are forbidden in Guatemala.The country is divided into 22 separate departments, which are then further divided into 332 departments. Guatemala City is the capital city of the Guatemala department.The country’s growth solely relies on its ability to currently pull 56% of its population over the poverty line. It must combat the problem of crime and drug-trafficking. It started on the right foot when it attained political stability back in 1996, and there was a positive impact on the economy.It is a country waiting to become the next leading power in South America.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked reading these Guatemala City facts then why not take a look at Guatemala major industries or Guatemala facts about food.
Guatemala City is the capital city of the country, Guatemala.
