Guatemala Geography 1997

Location Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belizeand bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico

Geographic coordinates 15 30 N, 90 15 W

Map references Central America and the Caribbean

Area
total: 108,890 sq km
land: 108,430 sq km
water: 460 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than Tennessee

Land boundaries
total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Coastline 400 km

Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau(Peten)

Elevation extremes
lowest point : Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Natural resources petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle

Land use
arable land : 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other : 5% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes;Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms

Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear TestBan, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified : Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography - note no natural harbors on west coast

NOTE: The information regarding Guatemala on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Guatemala Geography 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Guatemala Geography 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.