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Guatemala

By: Jack Hughes & Tracy Kealoha

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Tourism

Top 5 tourist attractions

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Tikal

Santa Catalina Arch

Chichicastenango Market

Flores

Monterrico

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General Info.

Government (political party): constitutional democratic republic

Population: 14,373,472

President: Jimmy Morales

Dictator: Efrain Rios Montt

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People & Language

Language: Spanish 60% Amerindian languages 40%

Indigenous People: 60%, groups include the Itza’, the Achi’, and the Mopan.

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Monetary System

Quetzal: Divided into 100 Centavos (Cents)

  • One unit of Guatemalan Currency is called the Quetzal.
  • Quetzal is the amount of a U.S quarter
  • Quetzal is named after the national bird of guatemala

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Imports and Exports

U.S Imports to Guatemala:

  • Bananas
  • Melons
  • Gold
  • Coffee
  • Petroleum Products
  • Vegetables
  • Sugar

U.S exports to Guatemala:

  • Petroleum products
  • Machinery
  • Cereals (Corn, Wheat and Rice)
  • Electrical equipment
  • Plastics
  • Paper/Paperboard products
  • Motor vehicles
  • Cotton yarn and fabric

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Agriculture

*** Contributes about 23% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it makes up 75% of export earnings, and employs 50% of the labor force.

*** Receives plenty of rainfall and warm sunlight.

*** Deforestation posed problems in recent times.

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Principal Cash Crops include:

  • Coffee (Grown on highland plantations)
  • Sugar
  • Bananas (Usually produced along the Atlantic Coastal plain)
  • Cotton
  • Hemp
  • Essential oils
  • Cacao

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Nontraditional Agriculture:

  • Lychee
  • Rambutan
  • Melon
  • Papaya
  • Mango
  • Pineapple
  • Broccoli
  • Okra
  • Snow peas
  • Celery
  • Cauliflower
  • Asparagus
  • Garlic
  • Spices
  • Nuts
  • Ornamental Plants

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*** Almost 80% of the population lives in poverty, 60% live in extreme poverty.

*** 3% of landlords own 70% of the land, and dominate cultivation of the fertile coastal regions.

*** Now the third largest sugar producer in Latin America.

*** Three quarters of of production is exported.

FACTS ?

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*** Almost all forms of dishes include black beans, white rice and corn tortillas.

*** Gallo is the national beer of Guatemala.

*** DO NOT DRINK TAP WATER (it can cause stomach aches and infection).

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  • Scrambled eggs
  • Fried plantations
  • Fresh fruit (optional)

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  • Tortillas
  • Rice and refried beans
  • Chicken and beef are the most popular meat
  • Meat’s are usually sauteed in chilli sauce or is boiled in savory stews

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  • Empanadas
  • Tamales
    • These two consist of corn meals, meat and potatoes
  • Fresh fruit (optional)

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Religions

** Catholicism is the official religion in the colonial era.

  • Protestantism, and Orthodoxy increased.
  • More than ⅓ of Guatemalans are Protestant.
  • 50% - 60% of the population is Roman Catholic.
  • 1% follow the indigenous Mayan faith

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Major National Holidays

January 1st

New Year’s Day

April Thursday & Friday

Easter, Holy week (Semana Santa)

May 1st

Labor Day

June 30th

Army Day

August 15th

Assumption Day

September 15th

Independence Day

October 12th

Columbus Day

October 20th

Revolution Day

November 1/2th

All Saints Day (Day of the Dead)

December 7th

Burning of the devil

December 13-21

Tribute to Santo Tomas

December 24th

Christmas Eve (afternoon only)

December 25th

Christmas Day

December 31st

New Year's eve (afternoon only)

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FuN fAcTs

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The national flag has two blue stripes on its sides with a coat of arms in the center. The two blue stripes represent guatemala’s two water bodies.

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The first chocolate bar was invented during the Mayan times in Guatemala.

David Estrada is a famous Guatemalan boxer.

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Interview

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APA Citations