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North & Central America and Caribbean

Guatemala
Last reviewed: 2 July 2008

Country information

GEOGRAPHY

The northernmost of the Central American nations, Guatemala is about the size of Scotland and Wales combined. Its neighbours are Mexico to the north and west, and Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador to the east. The country consists of 3 main regions — the cool highlands with the heaviest population, the tropical area along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and the tropical jungle in the northern lowlands (known as the Petén). The high plateau in the centre is volcanic, and temperate in climate compared to the hot tropical lowlands. Guatemala has 37 volcanoes - 3 of which are active. Violent earthquakes have, in the past, destroyed what were small cities on average twice every century. Modern construction is supposed to follow California building codes. There are black basalt volcanic sand beaches on the Pacific Ocean and white coral sand on the Caribbean Sea beaches.

Country information

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Travel Advice

Travel advice: Guatemala 

Our work in Guatemala

Starting at birth in Guatemala

Useful Links

• UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Guatemala
• Department for International Development (DFID)
• www.belizeguatemala.com 
• Lonely Planet Guide, Guatemala
• Rough Guides

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