
Guatemala Geography
Guatemala Geography: A summary of information about Guatemala Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Guatemala: Geography
Location
Middle 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 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, hydropower
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; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment - international agreements
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note
no natural harbors on west coast