Central America |
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Guatemala
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Population: 13,686,399 inhabitants
Land surface: 108,890 km2 Currency: Quetzal GDP per capita: US$ 4,568 Language: Spanish Official name: República de Guatemala. Capital: Guatemala 951,000 inhabitants (2003). Other cities (inhabitants – 2000): Mixco 268,300; Villa Nueva 129,600; Quetzaltenango 115,900; Escuintla 63,400; Chinautla 47,500. Government: presidential Religion: predominantly Catholic; various forms of syncretism with the Mayan religion are practiced. In recent years various evangelical sects have proliferated. Geography. The Sierra Madre and the Sierra of the Cuchumatan cross the country from east to west. They are the scenery of volcanic activity and earthquakes. Among them is the Altiplano region, which has sandy soils, is steep and easily eroded. The Altiplano occupies 26% of the territory and accounts for 53% of the population. There are coffee plantations and subsistence crops of the peasant communities. The side by the Atlantic coast, which is the largest and is covered with tropical forests, is less populated. There are banana, sugar cane, cotton and coffee plantations in the valleys of the Caribbean and the lowlands of the Pacific. |
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Honduras
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Population: 7,246,016 inhabitants
Land surface: 112,090 km2 Currency: Lempira GDP per capita: US$ 3,430 Language: Spanish Official name: República de Honduras. Capital: Tegucigalpa 919,000 inhabitants (1999). Other cities (inhabitants – 2000): San Pedro Sula 616,500; La Ceiba 108,900; El Progreso 106,500; Choluteca 93,100. Government: presidential Religion: Catholics 85%; Protestants 10 %. Geography. 80% of the country is covered by mountains and forests. The country concentrates its population and economic activities in the Caribbean coast and the southern highlands near the border with El Salvador. The largest banana plantations in Central America are located in the coastal plains. There are crops of coffee, snuff and corn in the south. The availability of electricity has grown considerably. The Piedras Amarillas hydroelectric project was approved and put in place, which is one of the largest in the country capable of generating 100mW. |
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Nicaragua
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Population: 5,676,067 inhabitants
Land surface: 130,000 km2 Currency: Córdoba GDP per capita: US$ 3,674 Language: Spanish Religion: Catholics (85%); Protestants (15%) Official name: República de Nicaragua. Capital: Managua 1,098,000 (2003). Other cities (inhabitants – 2000): León 153,200; Chinandega 120,400; Masaya 110,000; Granada 88,800. Government: presidential. Geography. It is the largest country in Central America with coastlines on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. Two major mountain systems cross it: the Central Andes, from northwest to southeast, and on the west coast, a volcanic system, which has several active volcanoes. Lakes Managua and Nicaragua are located between the two chains. The climate is tropical, with abundant rainfall to the east and drier to west, where the population is concentrated. The main cash crop in the area is cotton and the banana in the Atlantic coast. |
