Geography of Guatemala

This article describes the geography of Guatemala.

Location:: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico
Geographic coordinates:: 15° 30′ N, 90° 15′ W
Map references:: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: Total: 108,890 km² Land: 108,430 km² Water: 460 km²

Area - comparative:: Slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries: Total: 1,687 km Border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Coastline:: 400 km
Maritime claims: Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:: Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain:: Mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Natural resources:: Petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use: Arable land: 12% Permanent crops: 5% Permanent pastures: 24% Forests and woodland: 54% Other: 5% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:: 1,250 km² (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:: Numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment--current issues:: Deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements: Party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol