rich in fine woods and rubber trees. This
region also has savannas, or grasslands
with some trees. Oak and pine forests
grow in the mountains. Mangrove trees
grow in swamps near the Pacific.
Guatemala’s wildlife includes jaguars,
monkeys, and parrots. The rain forests
are home to the brightly colored quetzal,
which is the national bird of Guatemala.
People
More than half of Guatemala’s people
are Ladinos, who usually have both
American Indian and Spanish ancestors.
Most of the rest of the people are Mayan
Indians, who follow their traditional
way of life. There are also small numbers
of blacks and whites. Spanish is the official
language, but many Indians speak
their own languages. The majority of the
people are Roman Catholics. Many
Indians combine Roman Catholicism
with traditional Mayan beliefs.
Nearly half of Guatemalans live in cities
or towns. The largest city, Guatemala
City, lies in the central mountains. Most
of the rest of the major cities are near
the Pacific coast.
166 Guatemala BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Economy
More than half of Guatemala’s people
work as farmers. The main food crops
are corn, beans, and squashes. Commercial
farms produce coffee, sugar,
bananas, and livestock for export.
Manufacturing is another important
part of the economy. Factories make
food products, clothing and textiles, and
metal goods. Guatemala also produces
some petroleum (oil). Tourism is a growing
industry.
History
TheMaya developed an advanced
civilization that spread through what are
now Guatemala, southernMexico, and
northern Belize.Mayan culture reached
its height between AD 250 and 900. In
1523 Spanish soldiers conquered the
Maya. The Spanish forced the Indians to
work on plantations and in mines.Many
Indians died from European diseases.
Guatemala gained independence from
Spain in 1821. Guatemala was part of
the Mexican Empire until 1823. Guatemala
then joined Honduras, El Salvador,
Costa Rica, and Nicaragua in a union
called the United Provinces of Central
America. In 1839 Guatemala became an
independent republic.
A series of dictators and military leaders
ruled Guatemala for many years. Large
landowners became wealthier while
peasants became poorer. Beginning in
the 1960s rebel groups attacked the government.
More than 100,000 people
died during the civil war, which ended
in 1996. The military’s control of politics
also ended in the 1990s. Nevertheless,
violence continued into the 21st
century.
..More to explore
Central America • Guatemala City
• Maya
Mayan Indians sell fruits and vegetables in the large central plaza in the town of Chichicastenango,
Guatemala.
Facts About
GUATEMALA
Population
(2008 estimate)
13,002,000
Area
42,130 sq mi
(109,117 sq km)
Capital
Guatemala City
Form of
government
Republic
Major cities
Guatemala City,
Mixco, Villa
Nueva, Quetzaltenango,
Escuintla
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Guatemala 167
Guatemala City
Population
(2002 estimate),
city, 942,300;
(2001 estimate),
metropolitan
area,
3,366,000
Guatemala City is the capital of the
Central American country of Guatemala.
It is the largest city in Central
America.
Guatemala City is the center of culture
and education in Guatemala. It is also
the country’s center of banking, business,
industry, and transportation. Most
of the country’s manufacturing takes
place in the Guatemala City area. Some
factories in the city process oil. Other
factories make tires, medicines, and fabrics.
In addition, Guatemala City has an
international airport.
In the 1500s Spain took control of Guatemala.
For many years another city was
the capital of Guatemala. In 1773 earthquakes
nearly destroyed that city. Guatemala
City was founded in 1776 to be
the new capital.
Guatemala and other Central American
colonies became free from Spanish rule
in 1821. They joined together in a
union. Guatemala City was the capital
of the union. In 1839 Guatemala
became an independent country with
Guatemala City as its capital.
Earthquakes shook Guatemala City for
six weeks in 1917 and 1918. Much of
the city had to be rebuilt.
#More to explore
Guatemala
A cathedral towers above a public square in Guatemala City.
168 Guatemala City BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Guinea
TheWest African nation of Guinea has
a largely poor, rural population. However,
its rich mineral deposits could
make it one of the wealthiest countries
in the region. The capital is Conakry.
Geography
Guinea borders Guinea-Bissau, Senegal,
Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra
Leone. The Atlantic Ocean is to the
west. The Fouta Djallon highlands cover
much of central Guinea.West Africa’s
three major rivers—the Niger, the Gambia,
and the Senegal—begin in the highlands.
Guinea has a hot, humid climate
with dry winters and wet summers.
Plants and Animals
Tropical rain forests of teak, mahogany,
and ebony trees grow in the southeast.
Grasses in northern Guinea may be 5 to
10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) tall. Baboons,
hyenas, and poisonous snakes are common.
People
Guinea’s main ethnic groups are the
Fulani, theMalinke, and the Susu. Each
has its own language, though the official
language is French. The majority of the
people in Guinea areMuslims. Almost
