Map of Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in North America with its capital at Guatemala City, home to about 18.69 million people across 108,889 km². The interactive map below plots 26 cities and towns, 5 rivers, 1 lakes, 2 mountain summits and 1 ports recorded for Guatemala in YearMaps.
- Population
- 18.69 million
- Area
- 108,889 km²
- Capital
- Guatemala City
- Continent
- North America
Interactive Map of Guatemala
Centred on Guatemala City at 14.6231° N, 90.5289° W. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
Great Monument of Guatemala
Tikal (Temple of the Great Jaguar) is marked on the map above. Click a pin or use "Show on map" to fly to it.
Tikal (Temple of the Great Jaguar)
Classic Maya Civilization (Jasaw Chan K'awiil I) · Classic Maya
Tikal Temple I is the designation given to one of the major structures at Tikal, one of the largest cities and archaeological sites of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. It is located in the Petén Basin region of northern Guatemala. It also is known as the Temple of the Great Jaguar because of a lintel that represents a king sitting upon a jaguar throne. An alternative name is the Temple of Ah Cacao, after the ruler buried in the temple. Temple I is a typically Petén-styled limestone stepped pyramid structure that is dated to approximately 732 AD.
Situated at the heart of a World Heritage Site, the temple is surmounted by a characteristic roof comb, a distinctive Maya architectural feature. Building Temple I on the eastern side of the Great Plaza was a significant deviation from the established tradition of building funerary temples just north of the plaza in Tikal's North Acropolis.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Tikal Temple I (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Built by
- Classic Maya Civilization (Jasaw Chan K'awiil I)
- Built
- 734 CE
- Era
- Classic Maya
- Type
- Maya Stepped Pyramid
- Status
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (Tikal National Park)
- Coordinates
- 17.2221° N, 89.6237° W
Architectural Significance
Nine stepped terraces echoing the nine levels of the Maya underworld, with sapodilla-wood lintels carved with royal scenes over the shrine doorways.
Photos of Tikal (Temple of the Great Jaguar)
Alfred Percival Maudslay · Public domain
History & architecture of Tikal (Temple of the Great Jaguar)
Structure
The structure is a funerary temple associated with Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil I, a Classic Period ruler of the polity based at Tikal, who ruled from AD 682–734. The tomb of this ruler has been located by archaeologists deep within the structure, the tomb having been built first with the temple being raised over it. Construction of both were overseen by Jasaw Chan K'awiil's son and heir Yik' in Chan K'awiil. Jasaw Chan K'awiil probably planned the building of the temple long before his death. The temple rises in nine stepped levels, which may be symbolic of the nine levels of the underworld. The temple has grooved moldings and inset corners. A steep staircase climbs the temple to the summit shrine.
The temple rises 55 meters (180 ft) over the Great Plaza. The pyramid is topped by a funerary shrine, containing finely carved wooden lintels, the execution of which probably was overseen by Jasaw Chan K'awiil as part of his plans for his funerary monument. The lintels were carved from sapodilla wood and one of them, Lintel 3, once was painted red. Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) is a very hard red-brown wood available locally. The lintels were formed from planks of this wood set into small niches fashioned into the walls forming the three doorways; the outermost lintel was smooth, but the central lintel was carved intricately from four planks. Two of these planks were removed in the nineteenth century and their location now is unknown. The other two were removed by the British explorer John Boddam-Whetham and donated to the British Museum in London. The scene carved onto one lintel shows a seated figure with an enormous serpent rising above him.
The shrine bears a high roof comb decorated with a sculpture of the seated king, Jasaw Chan K'awiil, although it now is difficult to discern. The roof comb consists of two parallel structures with an enclosed, vaulted hollow between them, which reduces the weight of the construction,. The weight of this heavy superstructure is borne through the spine of the temple. The front of the roof comb was finished with stone blocks carved to represent the enormous figure of the king, flanked by scrolls and serpents. It originally supported molded plaster decoration as well. The shrine contains three narrow, dark chambers that were accessible only through a single doorway. The three rooms were arranged one behind the other, and had high corbel-vaulted ceilings, braced by wooden beams. The beams were fashioned from sapodilla, the wood that was used in the lintels.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Tikal Temple I (CC BY-SA 4.0).
About Guatemala
Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in northern Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast (in the adjacency zone) by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Gulf of Honduras to the northeast.
The territory of modern Guatemala hosted the core of the Maya civilization, which extended across Mesoamerica; in the 16th century, most of this was conquered by the Spanish and claimed as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain. Guatemala attained independence from Spain and Mexico in 1821. From 1823 to 1841, it was part of the Federal Republic of Central America. For the latter half of the 19th century, Guatemala suffered from instability and civil strife. From the early 20th century, it was ruled by a series of dictators backed by the United States. In 1944, authoritarian leader Jorge Ubico was overthrown by a pro-democratic military coup, initiating a decade-long revolution that led to social and economic reforms. In 1954, a U.S.-backed military coup ended the revolution and installed a dictatorship. From 1960 to 1996, Guatemala endured a bloody civil war fought between the U.S.-backed government and leftist communist rebels backed by the USSR/Cuba, including genocidal massacres of the Maya population perpetrated by the Guatemalan military. The United Nations negotiated a peace accord, resulting in economic growth and successive democratic elections.
Guatemala's abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems includes many endemic species and contributes to Mesoamerica's designation as a biodiversity hotspot. Although rich in export goods, around a quarter of the population (4.6 million) face food insecurity; other major issues include poverty, crime, corruption, drug trafficking, and civil instability.
With an estimated population of around 17.6 million, Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America, the fourth most populous country in North America and the 11th most populous country in the Americas. Its capital and largest city, Guatemala City, is the second most populous city in Central America, and its metro area is the most populous in Central America.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Guatemala (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Guatemala
The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the internal conflict.
- Location
- Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize.
- Climate
- Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands.
- Terrain
- Two east-west trending mountain chains divide the country into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast south of mountains, and the vast northern Peten lowlands.
- Highest point
- Volcan Tajumulco (highest point in Central America) 4,220 m.
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 400 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 1,667 km; border countries: Belize 266 km; El Salvador 199 km; Honduras 244 km; Mexico 958 km.
- Major lakes
- Fresh water lake(s): Lago de Izabal - 590 sq km.
- Natural resources
- Petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.); arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.); forest: 33.2% (2023 est.); other: 23.7% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms volcanism: significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (3,772 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pacaya (2,552 m) is one of the country's most active volcanoes, with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana; see note 2 under "Geography - note".
- Geographic note
- Note 1: despite having both eastern and western coastlines (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), there are no natural harbors on the west coast note 2: Guatemala is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes.
- Languages
- Spanish (official) 69.9%, Maya languages 29.7% (Q'eqchi' 8.3%, K'iche 7.8%, Mam 4.4%, Kaqchikel 3%, Q'anjob'al 1.2%, Poqomchi' 1%, other 4%), other 0.4% (includes Xinca and Garifuna) (2018 est.)
- Religions
- Evangelical 45.7%, Roman Catholic 42.4%, none 11%, unspecified 0.9% (2023 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Mestizo (mixed Indigenous-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Maya 41.7%, Xinca (Indigenous, non-Maya) 1.8%, African descent 0.2%, Garifuna (mixed West and Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak) 0.1%, foreign 0.2% (2018 est.)
- Economy
- Developing Central American economy; steady economic growth fueled by remittances; high poverty and income inequality; limited government services, lack of employment opportunities, and frequent natural disasters impede human development efforts and drive emigration.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Guatemala in Numbers
- Population
- 18.69 million
- GDP
- US$123.3 billion
- GDP per person
- US$6,598
- Life expectancy
- 72.8 years
- Population growth
- 1.52% a year
- Population density
- 172 per km²
- Urban population
- 56.3%
- Surface area
- 108,889 km²
- Forest cover
- 33.1%
- Arable land
- 17.5%
- Access to electricity
- 90.9%
- Internet users
- 60.2%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Guatemala in Depth
History
The first evidence of human habitation in Guatemala dates to 12,000 BC. Archaeological evidence, such as obsidian arrowheads found in various parts of the country, suggests a human presence as early as 18,000 BC. There is archaeological proof that early Guatemalan settlers were hunter-gatherers. Maize cultivation had been developed by 3500 BC. Sites dating to 6500 BC have been found in the Quiché region in the Guatemalan Highlands, and in Sipacate and Escuintla on the central Pacific coast.
Archaeologists divide the pre-Columbian history of Mesoamerica into the Preclassic period (2000 BC to 250 AD), the Classic period (250 to 900 AD), and the Postclassic period (900 to 1500 AD).
Geography
Guatemala is mountainous with small patches of desert and sand dunes, all hilly valleys, except for the south coast and the vast northern lowlands of Petén department. Two mountain chains enter Guatemala from west to east, dividing Guatemala into three major regions: the highlands, where the mountains are located; the Pacific coast, south of the mountains and the Petén region, north of the mountains.
All major cities are located in the highlands and Pacific coast regions; by comparison, Petén is sparsely populated. These three regions vary in climate, elevation, and landscape, providing dramatic contrasts between hot, humid tropical lowlands and colder, drier highland peaks. Volcán Tajumulco, at 4,220 meters (13,850 feet), is the highest point in the Central American countries.
Economy
Guatemala had a nominal GDP of US$113.9 billion and a PPP-adjusted GDP of $264.8 billion as of 2024, making it the largest economy in Central America. It has averaged 3.5% GDP annual growth over the past decade. However, Guatemala faces many social problems and is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. The income distribution is highly unequal, with 56% of the population living in poverty and 16.2% living in extreme poverty as of 2024.
Unstable and low-paying informal jobs are the main source of employment, and only 29% of Guatemalans have formal jobs. Guatemala's exports include fruits, vegetables, flowers, handicrafts, and cloths. It is a leading exporter of cardamom and coffee.
Demographics
Guatemala has a population of 17,608,483 (2021 est). With only 885,000 in 1900, this constitutes the fastest population growth in the Western Hemisphere during the 20th century. The Republic of Guatemala's first census was taken in 1778. The census records for 1778, 1880, 1893 and 1921 were used as scrap paper and no longer exist, although their statistical information was preserved. Censuses have not been taken at regular intervals. The 1837 census was discredited at the time; statistician Don Jose de la Valle made a calculation that in 1837 the population of Guatemala was 600,000. The 1940 census was burned.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Guatemala (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Guatemala: Key Facts
| Currency | quetzal |
|---|---|
| Official language | Spanish |
| Head of state | Bernardo Arévalo de León |
| Head of government | Bernardo Arévalo de León |
| Form of government | presidential system, representative democracy |
| Calling code | +502 |
| Internet domain | .gt |
| Highest point | Volcán Tajumulco |
| Lowest point | Caribbean Sea |
| Established | 1821 |
Facts from Wikidata Q774 (CC0).
History of Guatemala: Empires and States
The atlas records 5 polities whose mapped territory included part of Guatemala, from Mayan City-States in 247 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Mayan City-States | 247 BCE – 849 CE | Nearly all |
| Later Mayan City-States | 1450–1546 CE | A small part |
| The Spanish Empire | 1526–1821 CE | Nearly all |
| United Provinces of Central America | 1824–1839 CE | Nearly all |
| Guatemala | 1840–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Guatemala
Guatemala on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Guatemala
Guatemala has a rich and distinctive culture from the extended mixing of Spanish settlers and the Maya people who are native to Central America. This diverse history and the natural beauty of the land have created a destination rich in interesting and scenic sites. Guatemala is very tough land—you can experience dense jungles, mountainous terrain with volcanic activity, other seismic activity (earthquakes, mudslides), and hurricanes.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Guatemala (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Guatemala
26 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guatemala | 1.02 million | Guatemala | National capital |
| 2 | Quetzaltenango | 575,263 | Quezaltenango | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | El Progreso | 147,197 | El Progreso | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | San Luis | 132,470 | Petén | Populated place |
| 5 | Escuintla | 107,638 | Escuintla | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Huehuetenango | 85,992 | Huehuetenango | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Chimaltenango | 82,370 | Chimaltenango | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Totonicapán | 69,734 | Totonicapán | Admin-1 capital |
| 9 | Cobán | 65,194 | Alta Verapaz | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Mazatenango | 64,652 | Suchitepéquez | Admin-1 capital |
| 11 | Puerto Barrios | 56,605 | Izabal | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Jutiapa | 50,681 | Jutiapa | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Jalapa | 45,834 | Jalapa | Admin-1 capital |
| 14 | Sololá | 45,373 | Sololá | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Chiquimula | 41,521 | Chiquimula | Admin-1 capital |
| 16 | Salamá | 40,000 | Baja Verapaz | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Antigua Guatemala | 39,368 | Sacatepéquez | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Flores | 38,035 | Petén | Admin-1 capital |
| 19 | Retalhuleu | 36,656 | Retalhuleu | Admin-1 capital |
| 20 | Zacapa | 36,088 | Zacapa | Admin-1 capital |
| 21 | San Marcos | 25,088 | San Marcos | Admin-1 capital |
| 22 | Santa Cruz Del Quiche | 23,618 | Quiché | Admin-1 capital |
| 23 | San Jose | 18,655 | Escuintla | Populated place |
| 24 | Cuilapa | 16,484 | Santa Rosa | Admin-1 capital |
| 25 | Livingston | 14,350 | Izabal | Populated place |
The other 1 (population, region, role)
- La Libertad · 8,646 · Petén · Populated place
Highest Mountains in Guatemala
2 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volcán Tajumulco | 4,220 m | 13,845 ft | North America |
| 2 | Volcán Tacaná | 4,067 m | 13,343 ft | North America |
Volcán Tajumulco
Mountain · 4,220 m
Volcán Tajumulco is a mountain rising to 4,220 metres (13,845 ft) in Guatemala, in the North America region.
Volcán Tajumulco is a large stratovolcano in the department of San Marcos in western Guatemala. It is the highest mountain in Central America at 4,203 metres (13,789 ft). It is part of the mountain range of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, which begins in Mexico's southernmost state of Chiapas.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Volcán Tajumulco (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 4,220 m (13,845 ft)
- Global rank
- #106 of 641 indexed
- Region
- North America (#15)
- Subregion
- Central America
- Country
- Guatemala
- Coordinates
- 15.0435°, -91.8955°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Volcán Tajumulco ranks #106 by elevation, below Mount Kaplan (4,230 m) and above Gannett Peak (4,207 m).
- Ranges:
- Sierra Madre Oriental (North America), Ouachita Mountains (North America)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Volcán Tacaná (4,067 m), Cerro El Pital (2,730 m), Doyle's Delight (1,174 m)
- Settlements below:
- San Marcos (13 km), Tapachula (43 km), Quetzaltenango (47 km)
More about Volcán Tajumulco
Description
Tajumulco is composed of andesitic-dacitic lavas on the top of a large escarpment of uncertain origin. It has two summits, one of which has a crater 50–70 metres (160–230 ft) wide. A lava flow from the north-western summit descends into a steep valley on the same side of the volcano.
The volcano's eruptive history is unclear and the date of its last eruption unknown. Reports from the 18th and early 19th century claim to record eruptions but these are considered unlikely.
The region around Tajumulco is relatively sparsely populated. The nearest town is San Marcos, located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to the south-east. Although it is infrequently visited by tourists, the volcano can be climbed in about five hours from the hamlet of Tuichán.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Volcán Tajumulco (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Volcán Tajumulco: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 3,980 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Sierra Madre de Chiapas |
Facts from Wikidata Q818467 (CC0).
Volcán Tacaná
Mountain · 4,067 m
Volcán Tacaná is a mountain rising to 4,067 metres (13,343 ft) in Guatemala and Mexico, in the North America region. The summit stands on the border between them. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
The volcano Tacaná is the second highest peak in Central America at 4,060 metres (13,320 ft), located in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas of western Guatemala and southern Mexico. It is also known in Mexico as Volcán Tacina.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Volcán Tacaná (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 4,067 m (13,343 ft)
- Global rank
- #119 of 641 indexed
- Region
- North America (#19)
- Subregion
- Central America
- Countries
- Guatemala, Mexico
- Coordinates
- 15.1301°, -92.1100°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Volcán Tacaná ranks #119 by elevation, below Cape Colbeck (4,069 m) and above Cerro San Valentín (4,058 m).
- Ranges:
- Sierra Madre Oriental (North America), Ouachita Mountains (North America)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Volcán Tajumulco (4,220 m)
- Settlements below:
- San Marcos (38 km), Quetzaltenango (72 km), Huehuetenango (72 km)
More about Volcán Tacaná
Geography
The volcano is located within the Tacaná municipality of the San Marcos Department in Guatemala; and within the Cacahoatán and Unión Juárez Municipalities of Chiapas state in Mexico.
Its last known eruption was registered in 1986 — a small phreatic eruption in May — but it is still considered as dangerous to more than 250,000 people residing in the area.
Tacaná is the first of hundreds of volcanoes in a 1,500 km (930 mi) km row, arranged NW to SE, parallel to the Pacific Ocean coast of Central America, known as the Central America Volcanic Arc, formed by an active subduction zone along the western boundary of the Caribbean Plate.
The agricultural valley at its NNE foothills is covered with thick deposits of lahars.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Volcán Tacaná (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Volcán Tacaná: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 1,030 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Sierra Madre de Chiapas |
Facts from Wikidata Q1752870 (CC0).
Largest Lakes in Guatemala
1 lake recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lago de Izabal | 733 km² | Lake |
Lago de Izabal
Lake · 733 km²
Lago de Izabal is a lake in Guatemala, with a mapped surface area of about 733 km².
Lake Izabal (Spanish pronunciation: [isaˈβal]), also known as the Golfo Dulce, is the largest lake in Guatemala with a surface area of 672 km2 (166,000 acres; 259 mi2) [1] and a maximum depth of 18 m (59 ft). The Polochic River is the largest river that drains into the lake. The lake, which is only a metre above sea level, drains into the Gulf of Honduras of the Caribbean Sea through the smaller Golfete Dulce, which is at sea level, and the navigable Rio Dulce.
The well-preserved colonial Castillo de San Felipe de Lara guarded this lake against pirate attacks, and there are some ancient sunken ships nearby. It is home to several species, including the manatee, jaguar, spider monkey, blue-eye cichlids, and howler monkey, and is a popular place for birdwatching.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Lake Izabal (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Surface area
- 733 km²
- Area rank
- #241 of 756 indexed
- Type
- Lake
- Country
- Guatemala
- Coordinates
- 15.4926°, -89.1770°
Among the 756 water bodies with a mapped extent in YearMaps, Lago de Izabal ranks #241 by surface area, after Lac Tumba (735 km²) and ahead of Keban Baraji (733 km²). Areas are computed from the mapped outline and are approximate.
- Settlements on the shore:
- Puerto Barrios (67 km), Zacapa (69 km), San Luis (84 km)
- Other water nearby:
- Lago de Managua (1,042 km²), Lago de Nicaragua (8,172 km²)
More about Lago de Izabal
Lago de Izabal: Key Facts
| Surface area | 590 km² |
|---|---|
| Maximum depth | 18 m |
| Surface elevation | 1 m |
| Inflows | Polochic River |
| Outflows | Dulce River |
Facts from Wikidata Q138637 (CC0).
Rivers in Guatemala
5 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
| Name | Type | Also Flows Through |
|---|---|---|
| Chixoy | River | — |
| Cuilco | River | Mexico |
| Motagua | River | — |
| Rio Salinas | River | Mexico |
| Usumacinta | River | Mexico |
Ports in Guatemala
1 port recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santo Thomas de Castilla | 38.4 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Guatemala
4 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antigua Guatemala | 1979 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (iv) |
| 2 | Tikal National Park | 1979 | Mixed | (i) (iii) (iv) (ix) (x) |
| 3 | Quiriguá | 1981 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iv) |
| 4 | Takalik Abaj | 2023 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Guatemala
3 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central America | 787,235 km² | Isthmus | North America |
| 2 | Sierra Chiapas | 81,217 km² | Range/mtn | North America |
| 3 | Maya Mountains | 10,395 km² | Range/mtn | North America |
Central America
Isthmus · 787,235 km²
Central America is an isthmus in North America (Central America), covering an estimated 787,235 km². It extends across Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Belize. It is the 20th-largest of the 231 landforms with a mapped extent in YearMaps.
Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually defined as consisting of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, and also, in specialized contexts, including Mexico. Within Central America is the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot, which extends from southern Mexico to southeastern Panama. Due to the presence of several active geologic faults and the Central America Volcanic Arc, seismic activity in the region, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, is high, which has caused death, injury, and property damage.
Central America includes portions of two recognized cultural areas: the Isthmo-Colombian cultural area, which encompasses modern Panama, Costa Rica, and the eastern portions of Nicaragua and Honduras, along with regions to the east; and the Mesoamerican cultural area, encompassing Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and the western portions of Honduras and Nicaragua, along with the southern part of Mexico.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Central America (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Isthmus
- Mapped extent
- 787,235 km²
- Size rank
- #20 of 231 landforms
- Region
- North America
- Subregion
- Central America
- Countries
- Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Belize
- Coordinates
- 13.8877°, -85.5972°
- Summits:
- Volcán Tajumulco (4,220 m), Volcán Tacaná (4,067 m)
- Ranges:
- Sierra Madre Oriental (North America), Ouachita Mountains (North America)
- Settlements:
- Cobán (26 km), Salamá (62 km), El Progreso (93 km)
More about Central America
Geography
Central America is a part of North America consisting of a tapering isthmus running from the southern extent of Mexico to the northwestern portion of South America. Central America has the Gulf of Mexico, a body of water within the Atlantic Ocean, to the north; the Caribbean Sea, also part of the Atlantic Ocean, to the northeast; and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Some physiographists define the Isthmus of Tehuantepec as the northern geographic border of Central America, while others use the northwestern borders of Belize and Guatemala. From there, the Central American land mass extends southeastward to the Atrato River, where it connects to the Pacific Lowlands in northwestern South America.
History
Central America was formed more than 3 million years ago, as part of the Isthmus of Panama, when its portion of land connected each side of water.
In the Pre-Columbian era, the northern areas of Central America were inhabited by the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. Most notable among these were the Mayans, who had built numerous cities throughout the region, and the Aztecs, who had created a vast empire. The pre-Columbian cultures of eastern Honduras, Caribbean Nicaragua, most of Costa Rica and Panama were predominantly speakers of the Chibchan languages at the time of European contact and are considered by some culturally different and grouped in the Isthmo-Colombian Area.
Economy
Signed in 2004, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is an agreement between the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The treaty is aimed at promoting free trade among its members.
Guatemala has the largest economy in the region. Its main exports are coffee, sugar, bananas, petroleum, clothing, and cardamom. Of its 10.29 billion dollar annual exports, 40.2% go to the United States, 11.1% to neighboring El Salvador, 8% to Honduras, 5.5% to Mexico, 4.7% to Nicaragua, and 4.3% to Costa Rica.
The region is particularly attractive for companies (especially clothing companies) because of its geographical proximity to the United States, very low wages and considerable tax advantages.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Central America (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Central America: Key Facts
| Area | 560,988 km² |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Volcán Tajumulco |
Facts from Wikidata Q27611 (CC0).
Countries Bordering Guatemala
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in North America
Guatemala: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Guatemala?
- The capital of Guatemala is Guatemala City.
- What is the population of Guatemala?
- Guatemala has a population of about 18.69 million, the #70 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Guatemala?
- Guatemala covers 108,889 km², ranking #108 by area, with about 172 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Guatemala in?
- Guatemala is in North America.
- Which countries border Guatemala?
- Guatemala shares a land or maritime border with Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador.
- What is the largest city in Guatemala?
- Guatemala is the largest city in Guatemala, with a metropolitan population of about 1.02 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Guatemala?
- The highest summit recorded for Guatemala in YearMaps is Volcán Tajumulco at 4,220 m (13,845 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Guatemala?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Guatemala is Lago de Izabal, at roughly 733 km².
- What are the famous wonders and monuments of Guatemala?
- Guatemala's great monuments in YearMaps are Tikal (Temple of the Great Jaguar). Each is written up on this page with photographs and its history.