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Yoga in Guatemala : Guatemala Yoga yogafinder.com | Guatemala | Guatemala surgeryplanet.com | Location, Directions, Panama City, Panama City Urological Center, Panama panamacityurology.com | Podiatrist in New City, NY - Dr. Ira Bernstein - New City Podiatrist rocklandfoot.com |
Guatemala City (in full, La Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción; locally known as Guatemala or Guate), is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala. It is also the capital city of the local Guatemala Department and the largest city in Central America and the Caribbean. The city is located at 14°38′N 90°33′W / 14.633°N 90.55°W, in a mountain valley called Valle de la Ermita in the south central part of the country. [edit] PopulationAs of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 2.5 million.[1] However, it has grown in excessive amounts throughout recent years. The current population estimates encompassing the city's metro area are of 7.2 million.[citation needed] Guatemalans have a diversity of origins, with Spanish and Mestizo descent being the most common. Guatemala City also has a sizeable Indigenous population and minority groups consisting of Germans and other European, Jewish people, Koreans; and also many people from other areas of Latin America. Guatemala City's population has experienced drastic growth since the 1970s with the influx of indigenous migrants from the outlying departments as well as a large influx of foreign groups. [edit] ClimateDespite its location in the tropics, due to its elevation and the resulting moderating influence of the higher altitude, Guatemala City features a subtropical highland climate. Guatemala City is hot during the dry season, with temperatures over 30°C not unusual. The rainy season extends from May to October.[2] Its average annual temperature is 19°C (67 °F): 23°C (74°F) during the day and 15°C (59 °F) at night. Sleet and freezing temperatures are practically nonexistent here.[2] Average morning relative humidity: 82%, evening relative humidity: 58%. Average Dew Point is 13°C (57°F)[2]
[edit] History Within the confines of modern Guatemala City is the ancient Maya city of Kaminaljuyu. Kaminaljuyu dates back some 9,000 years and is one of America's most notable archaeological sites. The center of Kaminaljuyu was located a short distance from the oldest part of Guatemala City. However, in the late 20th century, the city grew around the ruins, and, in some cases, over some of the outlying ruins before they were protected. Many of the several hundred temple mounds have been built over with freeways, shopping centers, commerce, luxury hotels and residential areas. The central ceremonial center of Kaminaljuyu was however protected by the Guatemalan government and is now a park within the city. There are also many ruins still in existence, protected by the government. In Spanish colonial times, Guatemala City was a small town. It had a monastery called El Carmen, founded in 1629. The capital of the Spanish Captaincy General of Guatemala, covering most of modern Central America, was moved here after a series of earthquakes - beginning on July 29, 1773 - destroyed the old capital, Antigua Guatemala.[4] On September 27, 1775, King Charles III of Spain officialized the moving of the capital. This dramatically increased the potential for expansion of the city. Guatemala City was the scene of the declaration of independence of Central America from Spain, and became the capital of the United Provinces of Central America in 1821. [edit] TodayGuatemala City is the economic, governmental and cultural capital of the Republic, and economic capital of Central America and the Caribbean. The city also functions as the main port of entry into the country, with Central America's largest international airport, La Aurora International Airport. In addition to a wide variety of restaurants, hotels and shops, the city has a wide variety of art galleries and museums (including some fine collections of Pre-Columbian art) and continually offers an increasing amount of cultural activities. [edit] Structure and growth Guatemala City is subdivided into 20 zones designed by the urban engineering of Raúl Aguilar Batres, each one with its own streets and avenues, making it very easy to find addresses in the city. Zones are number 1-19 and then 21, with Zone 20 not existing. The city metro area has grown so fast in the past years that it has absorbed most of the neighboring municipalities, including Villa Nueva, Santa Catarina Pinula, Mixco, and the suburban area of Carretera a El Salvador, currently a big and fine commercial and residential focal point of the city's metro area. Zone One is the Historic Center, (Centro Histórico), lying in the very heart of the city, the location of many important historic buildings including the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura (National Palace of Culture), the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Congress, the Casa Presidencial (Presidential House), the National Library and Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Plaza, old Central Park). Efforts to revitalize this important part of the city have been undertaken by the municipal government and have been very successful thus far. In an attempt to control rapid growth of the city, the municipal government (Municipalidad de Guatemala) headed by long time Mayor Álvaro Arzú, has implemented a plan to control its growth based on transects along its important arterial roads. This plan denominated POT (Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial) aims to allow taller building structures of mixed uses to be built next to large arterial roads and gradually decline in height and density as you move away from such. [5] [edit] Places of interest by zones [edit] Zone 1
[edit] Zone 2
[edit] Zone 4
[edit] Zone 5[edit] Zone 7
[edit] Zone 9
[edit] Zone 10
[edit] Zone 13[edit] Transportation
[edit] Universities and SchoolsThere are 10 universities, Universidad Mariano Gálvez, Universidad Panamericana, Universidad Mesoamericana, Universidad Rafael Landivar, Universidad Francisco Marroquin, Universidad del Valle, Universidad del Istmo, Universidad Galileo, Universidad Rural and Universidad de San Carlos, the only public one and third oldest university in America. The city also has 2 of the most expensive schools in Central America, The American School of Guatemala and The Mayan International School. [edit] Sports Guatemala City possesses several sportsgrounds and is home to many sports clubs. Football is the most popular sport, with CSD Municipal, Aurora FC and Comunicaciones being the main clubs. The Estadio Mateo Flores, located in the Zone 5 of the city, is the largest stadium in the country, followed in capacity by the Estadio Cementos Progreso and the Estadio del Ejército. An important multi-functional hall is the Domo Polideportivo de la CDAG. The city has hosted several international sports events: in 1950 it hosted the VI Central American and Caribbean Games, and in 2000 the FIFA Futsal World Championship. On July 4, 2007 the International Olympic Committee gathered in Guatemala City and voted Sochi to become the host for the 2014 Winter Olympics.[11] Guatemala City was announced in November 2007 to host the 2008 edition of the CONCACAF Futsal Championship, played at the Domo Polideportivo from June 2 to June 8 2008.[12][13] [edit] CrimeIn 2008, Approximately 40 murders a week were reported in Guatemala City alone. While the vast majority of murders do not involve foreigners, the sheer volume of activity and the limited resources makes local officials and police, who are inexperienced and underpaid, unable to cope with the problem. The judicial system is weak, overworked, and inefficient further compounding the crime problem.[14] There have been proposals to create a criminal justice program in the country and require police officers to have such studies. Higher studies would also be coupled with higher pay. This has only remained in the discussion stage without any advances despite the increased criminal wave that has plagued the city and country in the past decade or so. [edit] Natural disasters [edit] EarthquakesGuatemala City has been affected several times by earthquakes. The worst quakes were registered in 1917/1918 and 1976. [edit] Volcanic activityFour volcanoes are visible from the city, two of them active. The nearest and most active is Pacaya, which at times expels a considerable amount of ash, resulting in the closure of La Aurora International Airport and subsequent flight delays.[15] [edit] MudslidesDue to heavy rainfalls some of the humble neighborhoods built at the edge of steep valleys are frequently washed away and buried under mudslides, as in October 2005.[16] [edit] SinkholeIn February 2007 a large sinkhole opened in a poor neighborhood in northeast Guatemala city, killing three people. The sinkhole was 100.5 m (330 ft) deep, and apparently was created by fluid from a sewer dissolving the rock underneath. As a result, one thousand people have been evacuated from the area.[17] The sink hole has since been mitigated and plans to develop on the site have been proposed. [edit] Zona Ten and Zona VivaZone Ten along with being the financial district of the city is among the most popular areas for pop culture, shopping and entertainment. A district within Zone Ten, known as Zona Viva, contains many of the city's most popular hotels, restaurants, bars, discothèques, and other entertainment venues for the urban elite. Also, many of the embassies are located in Zone Ten. [edit] International relationsMain article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Central America [edit] Twin towns — Sister citiesGuatemala City is twinned with: [edit] Sons and daughters of the city
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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