|
fiogf49gjkf0d GUATEMALA IS SITUATED IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND COVERS AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 108,889 SQ KM. BORDERED TO THE NORTH AND WEST BY MEXICO, BY BELIZE, HONDURAS, EL SALVADOR AND THE CARIBBEAN SEA, AND EVENTUALLY TO THE SOUTH ALONG THE 240KM COASTLINE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE LOWLANDS ARE MADE UP OF TWO REGIONS, THE PETEN AND THE ATLANTIC LITTORAL. THERE IS ONE REGION IN THE SOUTH, THIS IS A NARROW PACIFIC COASTAL PLAIN, EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. HALF OF THE COUNTRY'S TOTAL AREA IS MADE UP OF HIGHLANDS. THE PETEN IS A LIMESTONE PLATEAU, COVERED ABUNDANTLY WITH RAIN FORESTS, WHILE THE ATLANTIC LITTORAL DRAINS EASTWARD TOWARDS THE GULF OF HONDURAS. THIS AREA CONTAINS THE LARGEST LAKE IN GUATEMALA, LAKE IZABAL WITH AN AREA OF 196 SQ KM.
THE PACIFIC COASTAL PLAINS, AVERAGE ABOUT 48 KM IN BREADTH, AND CONTAIN MANY OF GUATEMALA'S RIVERS. SEPARATED INTO TWO LARGE AREAS ARE THE HIGHLANDS REGION: THE ALTOS CUCHUMATANES IN THE NORTH AND IN THE SOUTH THE SIERRA MADRES. THESE ARE DOMINATED BY VOLCANIC PEAKS, INCLUDING TAJUMULCO THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY AT 4200M.
|