| El Petén | |
|---|---|
| — Department — | |
| El Petén | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Guatemala |
| Department | El Petén |
| Capital | Flores |
| Municipalities | 12 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Departmental |
| • Governor | |
| Area | |
| • Department | 35,854 km2 (13,843.3 sq mi) |
| Population (Census 2002)[1] | |
| • Department | 366,735 |
| • Urban | 110,399 |
| • Ethnicities | Ladino, Mopan, Lacandon, Itza, Q'eqchi' |
| • Religions | Roman Catholicism, Evangelicalism |
| Time zone | -6 |
Petén is a department of the nation of Guatemala. It is geographically the northernmost department of Guatemala, as well as the largest in size — at 12,960 square miles (33,600 km2) it accounts for about one third of Guatemala's area. The capital is Flores. The population in 2005 was estimated at 450,000.
Contents |
The Petén department is bordered on the east by Belize and by Mexico on the north and west, with the Mexican state of Chiapas to the west, Tabasco to the northwest and Campeche to the north.[2] To the south it borders the Guatemalan departments of Alta Verapaz and Izabal.[3] Much of the western border with Mexico is formed by the Usumacinta River and its tributary the Salinas River.[4] Portions of the southern border of the department are formed by the rivers Gracias a Dios and Santa Isabel.[5]
The main bodies of standing water in the department are the lakes Petén Itzá, Peténchel, Quexil, Salpetén and Macanche in the centre of the department; Yaxhá and Sacnab in the east, Petexbatún in the southwest, and Perdida , Larga, La Gloria, San Diego, Mendoza, El Repasto and Lacandón in the west.[6]
For the early history of the region, see Petén Basin and Maya civilization.
The Petén department was created by decree of the Guatemalan government on 8 May 1866.[7]
Starting in the 1960s the Guatemalan government offered land in Petén to any citizen willing to settle on it and pay a fee of $25. A road was opened up to Flores, although it was unpaved, and the notorious bus trip to Flores was known to take up to 24 hours to travel the 300 miles (500 km). Small airports were built at Flores and Tikal, bringing tourists to the region. In the early 1970s a road was opened from Tikal to Belize. The first paved road in Petén was built in 1982.
Since the 1990s many new settlers have come to Petén. The area is also experiencing severe deforestation in its southern half. Deforestation has been particularly rapid near Laguna del Tigre National Park in western Petén.[8] To combat deforestation, Guatemalan president Álvaro Colom has proposed dramatically expanding ecotourism around Maya archaeological sites, especially El Mirador, and trying to further develop an agricultural system in the southern portion of the Maya Biosphere Reserve that will prevent further northward migration.[9] He calls his plan "Cuatro Balam".
The Mundo Maya International Airport, in Santa Elena, is the second largest in Guatemala.
Petén consists of the following municipalities, listed with their population in 2000:
The Petén department includes a large number of archaeological sites belonging to the ancient Maya civilization, many of which have only received minimal attention by archaeologists.
Those sites with some level of restoration include: Tikal, Uaxactún, Aguateca, Seibal, Yaxha, Nakum, Topoxte, San Clemente and La Blanca.
Other archaeological sites include: Altar de Sacrificios, La Amelia, Arroyo de Piedra, Bejucal, Cancuén, El Caribe, El Chal, Cival, La Corona, Dos Pilas, Holmul, Holtun, Itzan, Ixkun, Ixlu, Ixtonton, Ixtutz, La Joyanca, Kinal, Machaquila, El Mirador, Motul de San José, La Muerta, Muralla de León, Naachtun, Nakbe, Naranjo, El Peru, Piedras Negras, Polol, El Porvenir, Punta de Chimino, Río Azul, Sacul, San Bartolo, La Sufricaya, Tamarindito, Tayasal, El Tintal, Tres Islas, Ucanal, Xultun, Zacpeten, Zapote Bobal and El Zotz.[10]
|
|||||