Guatemala

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Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala (Spanish: República de Guatemala, IPA: [re'puβlika ðe ɣwate'mala]), is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the northwest, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast.

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The most populous nation in Central America, Guatemala is best known for its historical role as a major seat of Pre-Columbian cultures, particularly the Mayans. Numerous sites of major archaeological significance have been discovered, including the ruins of the ancient city of Tikal. The abundance of sites helps supply the nation with a healthy stream of tourists (1.5 million in 2006).^[1] Guatemala is also home to several volcanoes, some of which can be climbed even though they are still active. Lake Atitlan is a large lake with volcanoes on its shores. Legend has it that the entire lake is actually the huge crater of an ancient volcano. Other than tourism, Guatemala's economy depends largely upon agriculture, with coffee and sugar

Guatemala is a representative democracy with its capital at Guatemala City. Although the nation has been relatively stable since 1996, Guatemala's recent history has been plagued by civil war and military coups, which have slowed the nation's development. Large portions of Guatemala's interior remain wholly undeveloped, including the nation's many rainforests and wetlands. Guatemala's abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems contribute to Mesoamerica's designation as an important biodiversity hotspot.^[2]