|RConstitution:|N Presidential Republic since 1986, constitution of 1986.
|RNational holiday:|N Independence Day, September 15.
|RNature and climate:|N The Central American mountainchain is crossing Guatemala in east-west direction. The highest peak within the country, Tajumulco, reaches 4217 m.a.s.l., and is, like several other peaks, an active volcano. Earthquakes are frequent in the area. Towards the Pacific Ocean in the south there is a narrow coastal plain and north of the mountains a hilly limestone plateau.
Average temperature in the lower parts of the country between 25 and 28°C and in the higher parts between 16 and 20°C throughout the year. Percipitation between 1000 and 4000 mm.
|RPeople:|N 60% of the population are Maya and other Indians, 30% Mestizo, also Blacks, Mulattos, Zambos and Whites.
|REconomy:|N 58% of the labour force is occupied in agriculture, 18% in manufacturing and 24% in services.
Agriculture accounts for half of the export revenues. Most important products are coffee (20% of the export revenues), sugar, bananas, cardamon and meat. For domestic consumption maize, beans, rice and wheat are grown. Fishing is of great importance. More than 40% of the country is forested. Most important are Mahogany and cedar along with the bala-tree giving chicle used in chewing-gums.
Guatemala is rich on minerals such as oil, zinc, lead, antimony, tungsten, cadmium, silver and copper. Industry accounts for 20% of GDP and is mainly based on traditional domestic resources. Foodprocessing is most important, but Guatemala has big factories for furnitures and textiles, as well as rubber- and paperprocessing, manufacturing of plastics, artificial fertilizer, medicine and electrical equipment. Oil has been extracted since 1980 and since then oilrefineries have been built.
Extensive tourism, that is negatively influenced by frequent political unrest.
|RHistory:|N From about 100 AD the mountain areas of Guatemala were the heartland of the Maya civilization that was in bloom from about 300 to 900 AD. The Mayas were headed by priests that developed advanced calendaric knowledge and made systematic astronomical observations. A written language and advanced rules of arithmetic were developed, and arts and architecture were supported. But they did not make use wheel and metals, except for gold that was used for art objects and ornaments.
The area was conquered by Spaniard Pedro de Alvarado 1522-5, and was a Spanish colony until 1821 when it became an independent republic, 1823-38 it was part of the Federation of Central America. After the collapse of this union it was ruled by dictators for more than a century, with some short democratic interludes.
In 1950 president Jacobo Arbenz launched an agricultural reform and nationalized the land and property of US-companies. In 1954 Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas seized power with a US-supported coup d'etat; Death squads appeared and many people "vanished".
In 1960 the first anti-goverment guerilla group was founded and in 1982 three different groups formed the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union (Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca, URMG). Gerneral Rios Montt made another successful coup, but was ousted by General Mejia Victores one year later.
In 1984 a constitutional assembly was elected that completed a new constituion until 1986. Democracy was attacked again by president Jorge Serrano Elías who tried to become "strong man" in 1993. International intervention by USA, OAS, EU and the Guatemalan people forced him to leave after one month. New president became Ramiro de León Carpio, an important fighter for human rights.
