Geography of Guatemala - Definition and Overview

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

• 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 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

• 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

See also:

• List of places in Guatemala
• Guatemala