Guatemala is situated in Central America, surrounded by culturally rich countries. To the north and west, Guatemala borders Mexico; on its northeast border is Belize; and to the southwest, El Salvador with Honduras to the south.
Guatemala is at the crook of the elbow with a small coastal area to the north on the Atlantic, and to the south, a longer stretch on the Pacific.
Guatemala geography is quite diverse, composed of rivers, volcanoes, parks, and principally mountains. The mountain range that makes up the central plateau where the cities of Guatemala, Antigua, Solola, and Santa Cruz do Quiche are located is 260 kilometers long and parallels the Pacific coast. The lower plains are located in the northern part of the country, known as the Peten, where you can find petroleum and chicle trees. The country is a great concentration of volcanoes, the main ones being Tajumulco, at 3,722 meters, and Atitlan at 3.537 meters. In Guatemala, we also find one of the principal ecological parks in the world, the Tikal National Park. Situated in a dense and well preserved tropical rain forest (with an area of 560 km2), this beautiful park is home to more than 4,000 Mayan monuments, including pyramids and temples where the Mayas conducted their ceremonies. In this park, you can find the Plaza Mayor Ruins with two enormous pyramid temples facing each other. The temple of the Jaguar, is 44 meters high, and the Temple of the Masks, 38 meters. The pyramids can only be appreciated externally since it is not permitted to climb them. Plaza Mayor gives us an idea as to how the city of Tikal might have been at its peak during the sixth century.
UNESCO declared the park an international heritage providing funds for its preservation and exploration. It is now a habitat for more than 300 species of birds, monkeys, and coatis.
Another temple that attracts the curiosity of tourists is Temple Four. It is the tallest construction of the Mayan civilization. At 64 meters, it points itself to the sky revealing all of its beauty. In this Temple, it is permitted to climb to the top and view the amazing scenery.
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