Guatemala is a country located in Central America. The name Guatemala comes from the Spanish word meaning " the snake eating bird", which is the eagle. It is a country rich in history, but also has a history of war and violence. Unfortunately this has helped make the country so poor. Hundreds of years ago the Mayan Indians and the many tribes that live in the mountains and in villages have made beautiful clothes and textiles. Guatemala is also a country of tradition, many Guatemalan Indians still wear the traditional costume. In Guatemala there are market places, no electricity, beautiful volcanoes and lakes. Climate .
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There are several factors that influence the climate of Guatemala. The first one is location. Guatemala is located only eighteen degrees north from the equator and the temperatures are rather warm. In the southern highlands, where Guatemala City is located, the temperature rarely falls below 50 degrees. Another factor is the trade winds. As the winds blow inland from the ocean through Guatemala the moist air causes rain. This rainy season is from May through October. The average annual rainfall for Guatemala City and the southern highlands is 52 inches. In the northern highlands, the average temperature is 70 degrees and the average annual rainfall is 60-100 inches. Another factor that effects the climate is the two mountain ranges that are a part of the Andes Mountains, the Sierra Madre and the Cuchumatanes. So altitude plays an important role in the climate of Guatemala.
Physical Features .
Guatemala has two large mountain ranges that run from east to west. They are called the Sierra Madre and the Cuchumatanes. In the Sierra Madre range, there are nineteen active volcanoes. The plains on the Pacific Coast are made up of volcanic soil. This area has rich farmland and can produce sugar cane, rubber trees, and cattle. Guatemala has two hundred miles of coastline.