The Andean Volcanic Belt, along the South American coast, is segmented into four main volcanic zones. These volcanoes, along the backbone of the Andes, are part of the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean basin where earthquakes and eruptions occur due to the collision of tectonic plates.
Antigua Guatemala was founded in 1543 and quickly became an important Spanish colonial hub. However, the city was repeatedly devastated by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The ruins left behind and its remarkable resilience contributes to the city's unique charm and historical character.
Inhabited since the 2nd century A.D., Quiriguá became the capital of an autonomous and prosperous state. Its ruins, located in what is today an archaeological park in southeastern Guatemala, constitute an essential resource for the study of Mayan civilization.
Central America Volcanic Arc
The Editor
Thu, 10/15/2020 - 15:09
The Central America Volcanic Arc is a chain of hundreds of volcanic formations that extend from Guatemala to northern Panama, parallel to the Pacific coastline of the Central American Isthmus. These volcanic formations range from major stratovolcanoes to lava domes and cinder cones.
Lake Atitlán and Volcán Atitlán lie in a spectacular setting in the Guatemalan Highlands of the Sierra Madre of southwestern Guatemala. The lake is the deepest in Central America and is renowned as one of the most beautiful in the world. As a result, it is the country's most important tourist attraction.
The Maya Biosphere Reserve in the Petén region of northern Guatemala and the Maya Forest of Belize and Mexico represents one of the largest areas of tropical forest north of the Amazon and the northernmost in the Western Hemisphere.
Maya Region: Maya Highlands and Lowlands (Mexico, Central America)
The Editor
Wed, 07/15/2020 - 13:14
The Maya region is the largest in Mesoamerica. The area is generally divided into three loosely defined zones within Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico: the southern Maya highlands, the southern Maya lowlands, and the northern Maya lowlands.
Mesoamerica: Historical Region (Mexico, Central America)
The Editor
Thu, 02/07/2019 - 20:57
Mesoamerica, which means "middle America" in Greek, is Central America's historical and cultural region. It extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica.
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is a marine region, underwater ecosystem and geological structure that stretches from the Yucatán Peninsula down to Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. This underwater wilderness of coral provides homes and food to hundreds of species.
The Pan-American Highway and the Inter-American Highway are intertwined road networks connecting the American continents. While they share similarities, they also have distinct characteristics and purposes. Their completion encounters a significant obstacle known as the Darién Gap.
