Guatemala: Geography and Environment

Guatemala is the largest country in Central America by population, bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize to the northeast, Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the south, and a short Caribbean coastline to the east. The country's terrain is dominated by a highland spine of mountains and volcanoes running through the interior, including Tajumulco, the highest point in Central America. Lowland regions include the northern Peten rainforest and narrow coastal plains along both the Pacific and Caribbean.

Guatemala's climate varies sharply with elevation, ranging from hot and humid in the coastal lowlands and the Peten to temperate in the highlands where the capital Guatemala City is located. A wet season generally runs from May to October and a dry season from November to April, though the Caribbean side receives rain throughout the year. Guatemala sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire and has several active volcanoes, including Pacaya and Fuego.

The Peten region contains one of the largest remaining tracts of tropical rainforest in Central America and is home to the Maya Biosphere Reserve, a protected area that also safeguards significant archaeological sites. Guatemala has lost substantial forest cover elsewhere in the country to agriculture, cattle ranching, and logging, and deforestation remains an ongoing concern. The government and conservation organizations continue to work on expanding protected areas and combating illegal logging, particularly in the Peten.