Tejutla, San Marcos
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Tejutla | |
Location in Guatemala | |
Coordinates: | |
---|---|
Country | Guatemala |
Department | San Marcos |
Founded | July 25, 1672 |
Government | |
- Mayor of Tejutla | Humberto Gómez |
Area | |
- Total | 142 km² (54.8 sq mi) |
Elevation | 2,500 m (8,202 ft) |
Population (2004) | |
- Total | 24,242 |
Time zone | GMT -6 (UTC) |
Tejutla is a municipality in the western highlands of Guatemala, in the department of San Marcos. Tejutla was founded in 1672. It is situated high in the mountains, the so-called "cold zone", at about 2500 m altitude. Most of the people are of Mam origin, who speak their own language. Tejutla has about 24,242 inhabitants. [1] The rivers Xolobaj and Del Molino flow through the town of Tejutla. [2] The economy in Tejutla lives on agriculture, mainly apples and potatoes. Although Tejutla is settled in a spectacular landscape, tourism is still very limited in this region. This remote area was hit by the civil war in the 1980s, when innocent citizens were terrorized by G-2 forces, the former secret police of Guatemala under Efraín Ríos Montt.[3] [4] In 2005, Tejutla suffered under the devastation of hurricane Stan. Every July, the city celebrates its town festival, dedicated to Santiago Apóstol, St. James. There is a cultural centre "casa de la cultura" in the city.