Geography of Guatemala

Satellite image of Guatemala
Continent	North America
Region	Central America
Coordinates	15°30′N90°15′W / 15.500°N 90.250°W /15.500; -90.250
Area	Ranked 105th
• Total	108,889 km2 (42,042 sq mi)
• Land	98.41%
• Water	1.59%
Coastline	400 km (250 mi)
Borders	total: 1,667 km (1,036 mi)
Highest point	Tajumulco Volcano 4,220 m or 13,845 ft
Lowest point	Pacific Ocean 0 m
Longest river	Motagua River 486 km (302 mi)
Largest lake	Lake Izabal 589.6 km2 (227.6 sq mi)
Exclusive economic zone	114,170 km2 (44,080 sq mi)

Guatemala is mountainous, except for the south coastal area and the vast northern lowlands ofPetén department. The country is located inCentral America and bounded to the north and west byMexico, to the east byBelize and by theGulf of Honduras, to the east byHonduras, to the southeast byEl Salvador, and to the south by thePacific Ocean. Two mountain chains enterGuatemala from west to east, dividing the country into three major regions: thehighlands, where the mountains are located; thePacific coast, south of the mountains; and the limestone plateau of thePetén region, north of the mountains. These areas vary in climate, elevation, and landscape, providing dramatic contrasts between hot and humid tropical lowlands and highland peaks and valleys.

The southern edge of thewestern highlands is marked by theSierra Madre, which stretches from theMexican border south and east, and continues at lower elevations towardEl Salvador. The mountain chain is characterised by steep volcanic cones, includingTajumulco Volcano 4,220 m or 13,845 ft, the highest point in the country andCentral America. All ofGuatemala's 37 volcanoes (3 of them active:Pacaya,Santiaguito andFuego), are in this mountain chain, and are abundant in the highlands.

The northern chain of mountains begins near the Mexican border with theCuchumatanes range, then stretches east through theChuacús and Chamá sierras, down to theSanta Cruz andMinas sierras, near theCaribbean Sea. The northern and southern mountains are separated by the Motagua valley, where theMotagua river and its tributaries drains from the highlands into theCaribbean being navigable in its lower end, where it forms the boundary withHonduras.

The rivers are short and shallow in the Pacific vertient, larger and deeper, such as thePolochic which drains inLake Izabal,Río Dulce,Motagua andSarstún that forms the boundary withBelize in the Caribbean and theGulf of Mexico vertient (Usumacinta, which forms the boundary betweenChiapas,Mexico and Petén and its tributaries such asLa Pasión andSan Pedro.

Most of the major cities are located in the Highlands. Major cities are the capitalGuatemala City, elevation 1,500 m (Central Highlands),Antigua Guatemala, elevation 1,530 m (Central Highlands),Quetzaltenango elevation 2,350 m (Western Highlands) andPuerto Barrios on the Caribbean coast. The largest lakeLago de Izabal (589.6 km²), is close to the Caribbean coast.Volcán Tajumulco, 4,220 m, the highest point in Central America, is located in the western department ofSan Marcos.

The lastmajor earthquake was on February 4, 1976, killing more than 23,000 in the Central Highlands.

Climate is hot and humid in the Pacific andPetén Lowlands. It is more temperate in the highlands, to freezing cold at the high of the Cuchumatanes range, and hot/drier in the easternmost departments.

Guatemala's location on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean makes it a target forhurricanes, includingHurricane Mitch in 1998 andHurricane Stan in October 2005, which killed more than 1,500 people. The damage was not wind related, but caused by flooding and landslides.

Geographic coordinates

15°30′N90°15′W / 15.500°N 90.250°W /15.500; -90.250

Map references

Central America and theCaribbean

Area

• Total: 108,889 km²
• Land: 107,159 km²

Land boundaries

• Total: 1,667 km
• Border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 199 km, Honduras 244 km, Mexico 958 km

Coastline

400 km

Maritime claims

• Territorial sea: 12 nmi (22 km)
• Exclusive economic zone: 114,170 km² (44,080 sq mi) and 200 nmi (370 km)
• Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Extreme points

• Northernmost point – border withMexico,Petén Department
• Southernmost point – border withEl Salvador, nearGarita Chapina,Jutiapa Department
• Westernmost point – border withMexico onPacific coast,San Marcos Department
• Easternmost point – border withHonduras,Izabal Department
• Lowest point –Pacific Ocean andCaribbean Sea: 0 m
• Highest point –Volcán Tajumulco: 4,220 m

Natural resources

Petroleum,nickel, rare woods,fish,chicle,hydropower

Land use

• Arable land: 14.32%
• Permanent crops: 8.82%
• Other: 76.87% (2012 est.)

Irrigated land

3,121 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources

111.3 km³ (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

• total: 3.46 km³/yr (15%/31%/54%)
• per capita: 259.1 m³/yr (2006)

Natural hazards

Several activevolcanoes, occasional violentearthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms, causing flooding, mudflows and landslides

Environment—current issues

Deforestation;soil erosion; water pollution

Environment—international agreements

• Party to:Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity,Climate Change,Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification,Endangered Species,Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea,Marine Dumping,Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution (MARPOL 73/78),Wetlands
• Signed, but not ratified:Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geography—note

No natural harbors on west coast

• Biodiversity of Guatemala
• List of earthquakes in Guatemala
• List of national parks of Guatemala
• List of places in Guatemala
• List of rivers of Guatemala
• List of volcanoes in Guatemala
• Water resources management in Guatemala

• Geography of Guatemala

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