Have you ever heard of Guatemala? It’s a country in Central America. Guatemala shares a border with Mexico to the west and north. Its southern shoreline is along the Pacific Ocean. Much of Guatemala has a tropical climate. That means it is warm most of the year. Here are five interesting facts you may not know about Guatemala.
1. Guatemala is the biggest country, by population, in Central America.
More than 18 million people live in Guatemala. Most people live in the southern half of the country. This area has many cities. The biggest city is Guatemala City. More than three million people live there. Not as many people live in the North. Rainforest covers much of the area.
2. Guatemala was home to the ancient Maya civilization.
The ancient Maya built many cities and temples. Most of these structures were built between 250 CE and 900 CE. They lived in what is today Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. One of their biggest cities was Tikal. People can visit the ruins of Tikal in northern Guatemala. The ancient Maya had a 365-day calendar, just like we do! The Maya are still around today. Millions of Guatemalans are Maya and speak the Maya language.
3. The country’s name comes from an Indigenous word.
The name “Guatemala” comes from an Indigenous (something native to a place) language. People believe it comes from the Maya or Aztec language. Some say it means “land of trees.” Others think it comes from a word that describes volcanoes.
Photo Credit: Manolo Rodriguez
Guatemala has 21 volcanoes. The country is located on the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire is a belt of volcanoes along the Pacific Ocean. Most of the world’s volcanoes are along the Ring of Fire. Many of Guatemala’s volcanoes are active. That means they could still erupt. Three of the country’s volcanoes have erupted since 2021! The city of Antigua is surrounded by four volcanoes. One of these volcanoes is called Fuego. In Spanish, “fuego” means fire. It has been erupting regularly since 2002. It last erupted in 2024.
5. Guatemala is one of the world’s biggest coffee producers.
Coffee beans grow best in tropical climates. Coffee beans also need rich soil. Guatemala has both of these things. Coffee beans are not native to Guatemala. European colonists brought them to Guatemala in the 1800s. Today, coffee is a big part of Guatemala’s economy. The country exports more than a billion dollars’ worth of coffee beans each year!
What Do You Think? What do you think is the most interesting thing about Guatemala?
