Guatemala
Guatemala, located just south of Mexico, is a Central American country of 17 million that's well known for its natural beauty - with volcanoes, rainforests, and beaches dotting its landscape. Guatemala has a rich history as well - once the home of a Mayan superpower, it was conquered by the Spanish in 1523; became the center of Spanish administration in Central America soon afterwards; gained independence and was annexed to Mexico in 1821, and finally became an independent republic in 1839. With its ancient Mayan sites, sprawling cities, and beautiful landscapes - Guatemala has also gained a reputation among tourists over the decades. Let's take a look at a few of Guatemala's most iconic and beautiful sights in today's update.
Our look at Guatemala begins in ancient times - with a journey to Ancient Tikal. This massive complex of Mayan ruins is located deep in the rainforests of northern Guatemala - and contained over 3,000 structures in its heyday from 300-850 CE. Once one of the most grandest cities of Mesoamerica, Tikal built its wealth by exploiting its natural resources and geographical location to become a Maya superpower, a status it also enjoyed into the 7th century CE when some of the site's most impressive monuments were constructed. By the 9th century CE however, the metropolis was unraveling and eventually became completely abandoned - with droughts, sickness, and toxic water possibly being the causes.
We fast forward to modern times - and today, much of Tikal lies in ruin. Over the decades and centuries, it's become the country's most popular tourist attraction and gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1979. It's truly the country's defining landmark.
Guatemala is also a country known for its natural splendor. One of the country's crown jewels is the beautiful Lake Atitlán. This pristine body of water is located in a massive volcanic crater in Guatemala’s southwestern highlands and is ringed by steep, verdant hills. It’s also known for its Mayan villages and steep neighboring volcanoes with strikingly pointed cones.
Our next sight comes from rural Guatemala - where much of the rugged highlands are criss-crossed by a mesmerizing array of small farming plots for as far as the eye can see. Since ancient times, the locals have farmed the rich volcanic soils.
The last scene we'll be taking a look at is Guatemala's sprawling capital city of Guatemala City from high above. Home to nearly 3 million people in it's urban area, it's the political, social, cultural, and economic center of Guatemala - and is also known as being the heart of the country.
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-korver
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