What are 5 interesting facts about Guatemala?
11 Surprising Cultural Facts You Didn’t Know About Guatemala
- The national bird lends its name to the Guatemalan currency. …
- Guatemala means “land of many trees” …
- It has been inhabited for 20,000 years. …
- 22 languages are spoken in the country. …
- The CIA overthrew a socialist government in 1954. …
- The Guatemalan Civil War was the longest in Latin American history.
What is an interesting fact about Guatemala?
The population of Guatemala today is more than 14 million people. Guatemala is the second-most populated country in both South and Central America. The Guatemalan currency is the Quetzal, and the U.S. dollar is also used. Approximately half of the Guatemalans living today are descendants of the ancient Mayans.
What is Guatemala known for?
Guatemala is best known for its volcanic landscape, fascinating Mayan culture and the colorful colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But this small Central American country has a wealth of homegrown produce and talent.
Did Guatemala invent chocolate?
Guatemalans invented the first ever chocolate bar
All of us (well, the chocolate lovers among us) would agree with the Maya people who worship the cacao tree. They call chocolate “the food of the Gods”. … Today, Guatemala is a mass producer and exporter of chocolate products.
Why Guatemala is so poor?
Guatemala’s poor getting poorer. In Latin America, only Guatemala’s poor are getting even poorer. A new World Bank study says a key reason is that the government collects too few taxes. Low spending leads to poor infrastructure and slow growth.
What do Guatemalans do for fun?
Outdoor sports are main recreational activities. The most popular are white-water rafting near Acatenango Volcano, kayaking on inland Lake Atitlán and along the Pacific coast, spelunking in the limestone labyrinths of the Petén plateau, and volcano climbing and mountain biking in the sierras above Antigua Guatemala.
What is Guatemala favorite sport?
Football
What food is Guatemala known for?
Corn, beans, rice, pork, beef, chicken, cheese, and tortillas form the backbone of most Guatemalan cuisine. Meat stews (caldos) and soups (sopas) are easily the most popular dishes among locals.
What language do Guatemala speak?
Spanish
How safe is Guatemala?
Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America, one of the world’s highest homicide rates and a very low arrest and detention rate. Most incidents of violent crime are drug- and gang-related. They occur throughout the country, including in tourist destinations.
What is Guatemala’s national animal?
Not only is the quetzal the national bird of Guatemala, it also lends its name to the country’s currency and appears on its flag.
What is the culture of Guatemala?
The culture of Guatemala reflects strong Mayan and Spanish influences and continues to be defined as a contrast between poor Mayan villagers in the rural highlands, and the urbanized and relatively wealthy mestizos population (known in Guatemala as ladinos) who occupy the cities and surrounding agricultural plains.
Who is the god of chocolate?
IxCacao
Is English spoken in Guatemala?
English is recognized as a co-official language even in Guatemala, where it is the first tongue of many inhabitants of Izabal Department. But a movement is afoot to make it the second tongue of all educated Guatemalans.