65 years and over: 3.9% (male 252,108/female 291,272) (2011 est.)
Religion: Many inhabitants combine Catholic beliefs
with traditional Maya rites. Protestants
to some 40% of the population since 1998.
Other denominations represented are Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans,
Episcopalians, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Jehovah's
Witnesses
Official Language: Spanish
Major Exports/Industries: The
United States is the key Guatemala trade partner. El Salvador, the Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua
and Panama are the other trading partners of this Central American nation. coffee, banana, cardamom and sugar.
Geography
What is land like: 108,890 sq km.
Slightly smaller than Tennessee. tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in
highlands. mostly mountains with narrow
coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
Weather and Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
How geography affects economy: Natural
resources are petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower.
Brief History
Indigenous groups: Mayan
Colonization: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local
Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam
7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1%.
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain).
Government/Current political situation
Type of government: constitutional democratic republic
Current leader: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004)
Food: Three meals per day are the general rule, with the largest eaten at noon. Untilrecently, most stores and businesses in the urban areas closed for two to three hours to allow employees time to eat at home and rest before returning to work.
Clothing:
Sports: Football (soccer) is Guatemala’s most popular sport. Outdoor sports are main recreational activities. The most popular are white-water rafting near Acatenango Volcano.
Holidays/celebrations: January 1: New Year's Day
March/April: Easter
May 1: Labor Day
June 30: Army Day
September 15: Independence Day
October 20: Revolution Day
November 1: All Saints Day
December 25: Christmas Day
Music: Guatemalan music is made with instruments such
as chinchines (the black rattles made from gourds, seeds and other
objects), tortuga (turtle shell), shellfish shell, drum, sonajas
(rattles) and the marimba.
Art:
Tourism
Places to visit:
Lake Atitlán
Santa Maria Volcano
Current Event
One of the richest men in Guatemala has died. Jose Habie died on Friday September 28. Habie was piloting a helicopter when it crashed in Guatemala City. Habie was 56 years old at the time. He owned textile plants and a five-star hotel in Guatemala City.
General Information
with traditional Maya rites. Protestants
to some 40% of the population since 1998.
Other denominations represented are Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans,
Episcopalians, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Jehovah's
Witnesses
United States is the key Guatemala trade partner. El Salvador, the Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua
and Panama are the other trading partners of this Central American nation. coffee, banana, cardamom and sugar.
Geography
Slightly smaller than Tennessee. tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in
highlands. mostly mountains with narrow
coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
resources are petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower.
Brief History
Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam
7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1%.
Government/Current political situation
Culture
March/April: Easter
May 1: Labor Day
June 30: Army Day
September 15: Independence Day
October 20: Revolution Day
November 1: All Saints Day
December 25: Christmas Day
as chinchines (the black rattles made from gourds, seeds and other
objects), tortuga (turtle shell), shellfish shell, drum, sonajas
(rattles) and the marimba.
Tourism
Current Event
- One of the richest men in Guatemala has died. Jose Habie died on Friday September 28. Habie was piloting a helicopter when it crashed in Guatemala City. Habie was 56 years old at the time. He owned textile plants and a five-star hotel in Guatemala City.
http://www.ianslive.in/index.php?param=news/Guatemala_chopper_crash-389608/LatestNews/31Sources
Works Cited"5 Incredible Places to Visit in Guatemala." 5 Incredible Places to Visit in Guatemala. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2012. <http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/travel/news-5-beautiful-places-visit-guatemala>.
"AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com." Traditional Guatemalan Musical Instruments. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://antiguadailyphoto.com/2008/05/02/traditional-guatemalan-musical-instruments/>.
"Countries and Their Cultures." Culture of Guatemala. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Guatemala.html>.
"Economy Watch - Follow The Money." Guatemala Trade, Exports and Imports. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/guatemala/export-import.html>.
"Encyclopedia of the Nations." Religions. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Guatemala-RELIGIONS.html>.
"Geography and Map of Guatemala." Geography and Map of Guatemala. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcguatemala.htm>.
"Guatemala : Sports and Recreation." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/701217/Guatemala/40944/Sports-and-recreation>.
"Guatemala Demographics Profile 2012." Guatemala Demographics Profile 2012. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2012. <http://www.indexmundi.com/guatemala/demographics_profile.html>.
"Guatemala." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/guatemala?s=t>.
"Languages of Guatemala." Ethnologue Report for Guatemala. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=gt>.
"National Holidays & Events in Guatemala." National Holidays and Events in Guatemala. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://www.mayalandia.com/guatemala/events.php>.