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 / 14.633; -90.55 , in a mountain valley called Valle de la Ermita in the south central part of the country.
Population
As of the 2002 census, the city had a population of 2.5 million. 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. 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 such as Germans and other Europeans, Jewish, Koreans, and many groups from other Latin American country origins.
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.
Climate
Despite its location in the tropics and the many micro climates found within the country, Guatemala City's elevation and the resulting moderating influence of the higher altitude, enables Guatemala City to enjoy a subtropical highland climate. Guatemala City is generally mild, almost springlike, throughout the course of the year. It occasionally gets warm during the dry season, but it is nowhere near as hot as other sea-level cities located in the tropics. The rainy season extends from May to October while the dry season covers the remainder of the year.
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.
Average morning relative humidity: 82%, evening relative humidity: 58%. Average Dew Point is 13°C (57°F)
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. 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.
Today
Guatemala City is the economic, governmental and cultural capital of the Republic, and considered by many, an economic capital of Central America.
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, theaters, sports venues and museums (including some fine collections of Pre-Columbian art) and continually offers an increasing amount of cultural activities.
Guatemala City offers all the modern amenities along with important historic sites that a world class city can be expected to have ranging from an IMAX Theater to the Ícaro film festival (Festival Ícaro) featuring film produced in Guatemala and Central America.
Structure and growth
Guatemala City is subdivided into 22 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 numbered 1-25 with Zones 20, 22 and 23 not yet existing. Addresses are assigned according to the street or avenue number, followed by a dash and the number of meters it is away from the intersection further simplifying address location.
The city's metro area has recently grown so fast 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 large commercial and residential focal growth point of the 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 and exhibitting Transit-oriented development (TOD) characteristics. 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.
Places of interest by zones
Zone 1
- Museos de Guatemala
- Centro Histórico
- National Palace of Culture and Metropolitan Cathedral
- Mercado Central (central market)
- Biblioteca Nacional (national library)
- Centro Cultural Miguel Ángel Asturias
Zone 2
- Mapa en Relieve (giant map of Guatemala) and surrounding parks
Zone 4
- Centro Cultural Miguel Ángel Asturias
- Cuatro Grados Norte revitalized pedestrian area and cultural district
- Visa Immigration Office for all foreigners
Zone 5
- Estadio Mateo Flores
Zone 7
- Kaminaljuyu, Museo Miraflores , Miraflores (Biggest Mall in Central America)
Zone 9
- Torre del Reformador (Tower of the Reformer).
- Parque de la Industria , fairgrounds
- Avenida Reforma and El Obelisco, a parklike boulevard
Zone 10
- Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena (Mayan dress museum)
- Museo Popol Vuh
- Zona Viva entertainment district
- Botanical garden
- Plaza Fontabella
Zone 13
- Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología
- La Aurora Zoo
- La Aurora International Airport
- Avenida de las Américas
- Domo Polideportivo Indoor Sports Stadium
Transportation
- The newly renovated and expanded La Aurora International Airport lies in the southern part of the city and is the main gateway to the country.
- Urban public transportation is provided mainly by bus and recently supplemented with a BRT Sy
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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.
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