Geography of Guatemala

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Map of Guatemala
Map of Guatemala

This article describes the geography of Guatemala.

Location
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico
Geographic coordinates
15°30′N 90°15′W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
  • Total: 108,890 km²
  • Land: 108,430 km²
Area - comparative
Slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries
  • Total: 1,687 km
  • Border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline
400 km
Maritime claims
  • Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  • Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain
Mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
Elevation extremes
Natural resources
Petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use
  • Arable land: 12%
  • Permanent crops: 5%
  • Permanent pastures: 24%
  • Forests and woodland: 54%
  • Other: 5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
1,250 km² (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
Numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment--current issues
Deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements
Geography--note
No natural harbors on west coast

[edit] See also


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