Geography of

LOCATION
GUATEMALA Caribbean
Guatemala covers 42,042 square miles, Sea
making it the third-largest country in
Central America. It is located between the
Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Mexico Belize Gulf of
Mexico is west and north of Guatemala.
Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador are border
Honduras
Guatemala to the east. The Gulf of
Honduras on the country’s short eastern
coast. Guatemala City is the capital of
Guatemala. It is located in the southern Honduras
part of the country. More people live in
Guatemala City than any other city in El Salvador
Central America. The name Guatemala
comes from a language of the Mayan Pacific Ocean
people. It means “the land of high trees.”
LAND
Coastal plains are located in the southern part of Guatemala. The land along the
Pacific Ocean is low and flat. The rich soil is a valuable resource. Farmers grow
crops such as cacao, sugarcane, and fruit. Lake Atitlan, the deepest lake in
Central America, is located in southeastern Guatemala. Highlands fill the middle of
the country, while a plateau is located in the north. The volcanic Sierra Madre
mountain range spans from Guatemala to Mexico. Tajumulco is the highest point in
Central America. The Motagua River is Guatemala’s longest river. It flows
between the Sierra Madre and the Cuchumatan Mountains and empties into the
Gulf of Honduras. The Peten, a limestone plateau, fills the northern third of
Guatemala and stretches into the Yucatan Peninsula. It includes many cloud
forests that are covered in fog and tropical rain forests. The heavy rainfall often
leads to floods in this region.

CLIMATE
Guatemala’s weather ranges from hot and humid in the lowlands to dry in the
©Teaching to the Middle

central plateau. Temperatures are mild all year. There are two seasons: dry and
wet. November to April is the dry season in Guatemala, but trade winds bring
rain all year long. The wet season is from May to October. Heavy rains fall each
afternoon and evening. Severe tropical storms are common in September and
October.
VOLCANOES
There are over 30 volcanoes that rise in
Guatemala’s highlands. All are dormant, except
Fuego, Pacaya, and Santa Maria. They
sometimes spew hot lava, rocks, and ash. An
eruption can force thousands of people in the
mountains to flee their homes. Pacaya spewed
lava and rocks in May of 2010. It covered
Guatemala City, Antigua, and several villages with
a layer of ash. Fuego is the most active volcano. Its name means “fire” in
Spanish. Fuego rises 12,346 feet into the sky near the city of Antigua. Its top
puffs out smoke daily. It has erupted over 60 times since 1524. It recently
erupted in June 2018.
WILDLIFE
People cut down trees in Guatemala’s rain forests for many years to make room
for farm fields. Animals started losing their homes. Laws today have stopped
people from cutting down trees in protected areas. Many different animals still
live in Guatemala. Jaguars, tapirs, and ocelots roam rain forests and cloud
forests on the Peten plateau. Spider monkeys often swing from tree to tree,
while howler monkeys make noises that can be heard miles away. Keel-billed
toucans use their colorful bills to eat fruit. Rodents called agoutis live in the
forests among other rodents, beaded lizards, and venomous
snakes. The jumping viper can strike its prey in mid-air. The
fer-de-lance is a poisonous snake that also lives in Guatemala.
Its fangs are almost an inch long and can be deadly to humans
and animals. Over 100 kinds of bats fly throughout Guatemala. The
national bird of Guatemala is the colorful quetzal. It is featured on the
country’s flag and is the name of the country’s money too.
MAYAN RUINS
The ancient Mayan civilization thrived in Guatemala from about
250 to 900 CE. The people were very advanced for their
time. They used hieroglyphics to write and used complex
math. The Mayan civilization began declining in the 900s.
Spanish explorers entered Guatemala in the 1500s. They
©Teaching to the Middle

found ruins of huge Mayan temples and cities. Tikal is

located in the Peten region of Guatemala. It once
served as a center for the Mayan civilization. People
from all around the world visit the city’s ruins to see
how the ancient Mayans lived.
Name __________________________________

Geography of GUATEMALA
IDENTIFY: Use the word bank to identify each description.
Central America Sierra Madre Mexico

Guatemala City Pacific Mayan

Atitlan quetzal Fuego

1. This ancient civilization thrived in

Guatemala from about 250 to 900 CE

2. Guatemala is located between this

ocean and the Caribbean Sea

3. Guatemala is located in this region

4. This country is west and east of

Guatemala

5. The most active volcano in Guatemala

6. The capital of Guatemala

7. National bird of Guatemala

8. Deepest lake in Central America

©Teaching to the Middle

9. Mountain range that spans from

Guatemala to Mexico
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

10. The most active volcano, Fuego, means which of the following in
Spanish?
A. Explode
B. Lava
C. Fire
D. Ash

11. Which city served as a center for the Mayan civilization in

Guatemala?
A. Quetzal
B. Pacaya
C. Tajumulco
D. Tikal

12. Which body of water borders Guatemala on its short eastern

coast?
A. The Gulf of Honduras
B. The Caribbean Sea
C. The Pacific Ocean
D. The Gulf of Mexico

13. What kind of land is the Peten?

A. Tall mountains
B. Tropical rain forest
C. Limestone plateau
D. Volcanic

14. When does the wet season occur in Guatemala?

A. January to June
©Teaching to the Middle

B. May to October
C. September to October
D. November to April
Geography of
LOCATION
GUATEMALA Caribbean
Guatemala covers 42,042 square miles, Sea
making it the third-largest country in
Central America. It is located between the
Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Mexico Belize Gulf of
Mexico is west and north of Guatemala.
Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador are border
Honduras
Guatemala to the east. The Gulf of
Honduras on the country’s short eastern
coast. Guatemala City is the capital of
Guatemala. It is located in the southern Honduras
part of the country. More people live in
Guatemala City than any other city in El Salvador
Central America. The name Guatemala
comes from a language of the Mayan Pacific Ocean
people. It means “the land of high trees.”
LAND
Coastal plains are located in the southern part of Guatemala. The land along the
Pacific Ocean is low and flat. The rich soil is a valuable resource. Farmers grow
crops such as cacao, sugarcane, and fruit. Lake Atitlan, the deepest lake in
Central America, is located in southeastern Guatemala. Highlands fill the middle of
the country, while a plateau is located in the north. The volcanic Sierra Madre
mountain range spans from Guatemala to Mexico. Tajumulco is the highest point in
Central America. The Motagua River is Guatemala’s longest river. It flows
between the Sierra Madre and the Cuchumatan Mountains and empties into the
Gulf of Honduras. The Peten, a limestone plateau, fills the northern third of
Guatemala and stretches into the Yucatan Peninsula. It includes many cloud
forests that are covered in fog and tropical rain forests. The heavy rainfall often
leads to floods in this region.

CLIMATE
Guatemala’s weather ranges from hot and humid in the lowlands to dry in the
©Teaching to the Middle

central plateau. Temperatures are mild all year. There are two seasons: dry and
wet. November to April is the dry season in Guatemala, but trade winds bring
rain all year long. The wet season is from May to October. Heavy rains fall each
afternoon and evening. Severe tropical storms are common in September and
October.
VOLCANOES
There are over 30 volcanoes that rise in
Guatemala’s highlands. All are dormant, except
Fuego, Pacaya, and Santa Maria. They
sometimes spew hot lava, rocks, and ash. An
eruption can force thousands of people in the
mountains to flee their homes. Pacaya spewed
lava and rocks in May of 2010. It covered
Guatemala City, Antigua, and several villages with
a layer of ash. Fuego is the most active volcano. Its name means “fire” in
Spanish. Fuego rises 12,346 feet into the sky near the city of Antigua. Its top
puffs out smoke daily. It has erupted over 60 times since 1524. It recently
erupted in June 2018.
WILDLIFE
People cut down trees in Guatemala’s rain forests for many years to make room
for farm fields. Animals started losing their homes. Laws today have stopped
people from cutting down trees in protected areas. Many different animals still
live in Guatemala. Jaguars, tapirs, and ocelots roam rain forests and cloud
forests on the Peten plateau. Spider monkeys often swing from tree to tree,
while howler monkeys make noises that can be heard miles away. Keel-billed
toucans use their colorful bills to eat fruit. Rodents called agoutis live in the
forests among other rodents, beaded lizards, and venomous
snakes. The jumping viper can strike its prey in mid-air. The
fer-de-lance is a poisonous snake that also lives in Guatemala.
Its fangs are almost an inch long and can be deadly to humans
and animals. Over 100 kinds of bats fly throughout Guatemala. The
national bird of Guatemala is the colorful quetzal. It is featured on the
country’s flag and is the name of the country’s money too.
MAYAN RUINS
The ancient Mayan civilization thrived in Guatemala from about
250 to 900 CE. The people were very advanced for their
time. They used hieroglyphics to write and used complex
math. The Mayan civilization began declining in the 900s.
Spanish explorers entered Guatemala in the 1500s. They
©Teaching to the Middle

found ruins of huge Mayan temples and cities. Tikal is

located in the Peten region of Guatemala. It once
served as a center for the Mayan civilization. People
from all around the world visit the city’s ruins to see
how the ancient Mayans lived.
Name __________________________________

Geography of GUATEMALA
IDENTIFY: Use the word bank to identify each description.
Central America Sierra Madre Mexico

Guatemala City Pacific Mayan

Atitlan quetzal Fuego

1. This ancient civilization thrived in

Guatemala from about 250 to 900 CE

2. Guatemala is located between this

ocean and the Caribbean Sea

3. Guatemala is located in this region

4. This country is west and east of

Guatemala

5. The most active volcano in Guatemala

6. The capital of Guatemala

7. National bird of Guatemala

8. Deepest lake in Central America

©Teaching to the Middle

9. Mountain range that spans from

Guatemala to Mexico
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

10. The most active volcano, Fuego, means which of the following in
Spanish?
A. Explode
B. Lava
C. Fire
D. Ash

11. Which city served as a center for the Mayan civilization in

Guatemala?
A. Quetzal
B. Pacaya
C. Tajumulco
D. Tikal

12. Which body of water borders Guatemala on its short eastern

coast?
A. The Gulf of Honduras
B. The Caribbean Sea
C. The Pacific Ocean
D. The Gulf of Mexico

13. What kind of land is the Peten?

A. Tall mountains
B. Tropical rain forest
C. Limestone plateau
D. Volcanic

14. When does the wet season occur in Guatemala?

A. January to June
©Teaching to the Middle

B. May to October
C. September to October
D. November to April
Name ____KEY______________________________

Geography of GUATEMALA
IDENTIFY: Use the word bank to identify each description.
Central America Sierra Madre Mexico

Guatemala City Pacific Mayan

Atitlan quetzal Fuego

1. This ancient civilization thrived in

Mayan
Guatemala from about 250 to 900 CE

2. Guatemala is located between this

Pacific
ocean and the Caribbean Sea

Central America 3. Guatemala is located in this region

4. This country is west and east of

Mexico
Guatemala

Fuego 5. The most active volcano in Guatemala

Guatemala City 6. The capital of Guatemala

quetzal 7. National bird of Guatemala

Atitlan 8. Deepest lake in Central America

©Teaching to the Middle

9. Mountain range that spans from

Sierra Madre
Guatemala to Mexico
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

10. The most active volcano, Fuego, means which of the following in
Spanish?
A. Explode
B. Lava
C. Fire
D. Ash

11. Which city served as a center for the Mayan civilization in

Guatemala?
A. Quetzal
B. Pacaya
C. Tajumulco
D. Tikal

12. Which body of water borders Guatemala on its short eastern

coast?
A. The Gulf of Honduras
B. The Caribbean Sea
C. The Pacific Ocean
D. The Gulf of Mexico

13. What kind of land is the Peten?

A. Tall mountains
B. Tropical rain forest
C. Limestone plateau
D. Volcanic

14. When does the wet season occur in Guatemala?

A. January to June
©Teaching to the Middle

B. May to October
C. September to October
D. November to April
 THANKS!
©Teaching to the Middle

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