So... Where is Guatemala? What the heck is there to know about it? Well...
It is in Central America- bordered by Mexico, El Salvador, Belize, and Honduras.
Guatemala gained its independence in 1821, after 3 decades as a Spanish colony. Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, Maya civilization flourished there.
Manuel Estrada Cabrera ruled Guatemala from 1898 to 1920. His dictatorship allowed for the United Fruit Company to exercise its power in the Guatemalan political and economic arenas.
In 1954, a CIA-backed a coup led to the downfall of democratically-elected President Arbenz after he legalized the communist party and attempted to nationalize United Fruit's plantations.
The country underwent a civil war from 1960 to 1996, which saw government forces battling leftist rebel groups. During the war, an estimated 200,000 Guatemalans perished, many as a result of the government "disappearance" program. Allegations of genocide perpetrated by the Guatemalan government persist to this day.
Today, Guatemala is a constitutional republic although many social and economic problems persist. It is considered a biodiversity hotspot and boasts a population of over 15 million. Its capital, Guatemala City (Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción) sits at 4.900 ft. and is the most populous city in Central America with an estimated population of about 4,000,000.
Currency: Quetzal
Language: Spanish, along with approx. 21 Mayan dialects
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