Biodiversity
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Earth
Physics
Water
earthquakes
hurricanes
both
Correct!
Earthquakes occur under the west coast of Guatemala. Hurricanes and other tropical storms come in from the Caribbean Sea.
Population: 13.9 million
Size: 108,890 square kilometers
Capital and largest city: Guatemala City
Geography: mountains, jungles, coastal plains
Languages spoken: Spanish and 23 officially recognized Amerindian languages
Climate: tropical, hot, and humid
Cool fact: Many dinosaur bones are found in the jungles of Guatemala.
Besides volcanoes, what other natural hazards occur in Guatemala?
From the area now known as Guatemala, Mesoamerican cultures like the Olmec collected this important natural resource:
diamonds
jade
petroleum
Correct!
For a long time, no one knew exactly where the jade used by Mesoamerican cultures came from. Now we know that Guatemala has amazing natural jade deposits.
Guatemala is located at the boundaries of four plates. One plate subducts below the other, and the other two plates:
slide past each other
collide and fold up
spread apart from each other
Correct!
The Cocos plate sinks below the Caribbean plate, and the North American and Caribbean plates slide past each other. These plate movements cause earthquakes, volcanoes, and jade formation.
Guatemala has the tallest volcanoes in Central America.
Fact
OR
Fiction
?
Fact
The volcanoes in Guatemala are also the most active. Over 30 volcanoes soar above the western part of the country. After sunset, they can create a beautiful red glow in the sky.
For centuries, Guatemala was ruled by France.
Fact
OR
Fiction
?
Fiction
Guatemala was a Spanish colony from the 16th century to 1821. Antigua was the capital of New Spain. Today, the country is a democracy.
“
Most people visit Guatemala to see the Maya citadels or the volcanoes. But I find central Guatemala, with the rich Motagua Valley and towering Sierra de las Minas region, equally beautiful.
„
George Harlow, Earth scientist