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Geography of Guatemala

This article describes the geography of Guatemala.

; Location:

Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and 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 km²
Land: 108,430 km²

; 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:
Highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
; Natural resources:
Petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
; Land use:
  • Arable land: 12%
Permanent crops: 5%
Permanent pastures: 24%
Forests and woodland: 54%
Other: 5% (1993 est.)
; Irrigated land:
1,250 km² (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; Hurricane Mitch damage
; Environment--international agreements:
Signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
; Geography--note:
No natural harbors on west coast

See also: