Alta Verapaz

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Alta Verapaz

Semuc-Campey pools in the Cahabòn River, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

Alta Verapaz is a department in the north central part of Guatemala. The capital and chief city of the department is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered to the north by El Petén, to the east by Izabal, to the south by Zacapa, El Progreso, and Baja Verapaz, and to the west by El Quiché.

Alta Verapaz houses the Mario Dary Biotope Preserve, preserving the native flora and fauna of the region, especially the endangered national bird of Guatemala, the Resplendent Quetzal. Also in Alta Verapaz are the towns of Rabinal, Chisec, San Pedro Carchá and San Cristóbal Verapaz.

[edit] History

In Pre-Columbian times this area was part of the Maya civilization. When the Spanish Conquistadores came in the 1520s they conquered the central and southern highlands of Guatemala, but were driven back from this region by fierce native resistance. Spanish friars asked the unsuspicious natives for a chance to "peacefully" convert the land to Christianity, which they succeeded in, giving the area the name "Verapaz" meaning "True Peace" since it was so cunningly brought to Christianity and control of the King of Spain without warfare. In the 19th century this became an important coffee producing region.In 2005, the Rabinal Achí, a Maya K'iche' play from Rabinal, was declared Materpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of the Humanity, by the UNESCO