Guatemala City
11874
225484212
2008-07-13T22:55:25Z
Jumbuck
116385
robot Modifying: [[tr:Guatemala (şehir)]]
{{Refimprove|date=January 2008}}
{{expand|date=November 2007}}
{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = Guatemala City
|native_name = La Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción
|nickname = Guate, La Capirucha
|motto =
|image_skyline = Ciudad-de-Guatemala.jpg
|imagesize = 250px
|image_caption = Guatemala City
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_shield =
|image_map = <!-- Guatemala CIA modifiée.png -->
|mapsize =
|map_caption =
|pushpin_map = Guatemala
|pushpin_map_caption = Location within Guatemala
|subdivision_type = [[Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[Guatemala]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Departments of Guatemala|Department]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Guatemala (department)|Guatemala]]
|subdivision_type2 = Municipality
|subdivision_name2 = Guatemala
|government_type =
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Álvaro Arzú
|leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1 =
|leader_title2 =
|leader_name2 =
|leader_title3 =
|leader_name3 =
|established_title = Established
|established_date = 1773
|established_title1 =
|established_date1 =
|established_title2 =
|established_date2 =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 692
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_km2 = 1905
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_km2 =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|population_as_of = 2006
|population_note =
|population_total = 1,202,536
|population_density_km2 =
|population_density_sq_mi =
|population_metro =
|population_density_metro_km2 =
|population_density_metro_sq_mi =
|population_urban =
|timezone = GMT -6
|utc_offset =
|timezone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|latd= 14|latm=37|lats=22.48 |latNS=N
|longd= 90|longm= 31|longs= 53.33|longEW=W
|elevation_m = 1500
|elevation_ft =
|postal_code_type =
|postal_code = 01001 to 01025 excluding 20, 22, and 23
|website = [http://www.muniguate.com Municipalidad de Guatemala]
|footnotes =
}}
'''Guatemala City''' (in full, '''La Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción'''; locally known as '''Guatemala''' or '''Guate''') is the [[capital]] and largest city of the nation of [[Guatemala]]. It is also the capital city of the local [[Guatemala (department)|Guatemala Department]] and the largest city in [[Central America]].
As of the 2006 census, the city had a population of 1,202,536.<ref>[http://www.ine.gob.gt/ Instituto Nacional de Estadística - Censo Nacional 2006], accessed 11 July 2007</ref> The city is located at {{coor dm|14|38|N|90|33|W|}}, in a mountain valley in the south central part of the country.
== Population ==
The current population estimates for Guatemala City are about 4,500,000 in the greater metropolitan region.<ref>Varis, Olli , 'Megacities, Development and Water', International
Journal of Water Resources Development, 22:2, 199 - 225</ref> Guatemalans have a diversity of origins, with Spanish and [[Mestizo]] descent being the most common. There are also important Indigenous communities and smaller German, Jewish and Korean.
Guatemala City's population continues to increase with the influx of predominantly indigenous migrants from the other departments as well as people from other countries coming to live to the city.
== 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 the Americas' most notable archaeological sites.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} 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 protected by the Guatemalan government and is now a park within the city. Even so, there are some ruins still alive that are 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 Spanish [[Captaincy General of Guatemala|colonial Central America]] was moved here after a water volcano destroyed the old capital, [[Antigua Guatemala]], in 1775. King Charles III of [[Spain]] authorized the moving of the capital on [[September 27]], [[1775]]. This resulted in a great expansion of the city.
The 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 ==
[[Image:Guatemala City, National Post Office Building.JPG|thumb|x250px|right|National Post Office Building]]
Guatemala City is the economic, governmental and cultural capital of the Republic, and it functions as the main port of entry into the country, with the country'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 and museums (including some fine collections of [[Pre-Columbian]] art) and continually offers an increasing amount of cultural activities.
== Structure and growth ==
Guatemala City is subdivided into 25 zones (although zones 20, 22, and 23 don't exist), each one with its own streets and avenues, making it very easy to find addresses in the city. However, the city has grown so fast in the past years that it has already absorbed most of the neighboring towns, including Villa Nueva, Santa Catarina Pinula, [[Mixco]], and the suburban area of Carretera a [[El Salvador]], currently a big commercial and residential part of the city.
Zone One is the Historic Center (Centro Histórico), lying in the very heart of the city, the location of many important buildings including the [[National Palace|Palacio Nacional]] (National Palace), the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Congress, the [[Casa Presidencial]] (Presidential House), the National Library and Central Park.
== Places of interest by zones ==
===Zone 1===
*Railway Museum [http://www.amgicom-guatemala.org/MU-ferrocarril.htm]
*Centro Histórico [http://www.centrohistorico.net/]
*[[National Palace (Guatemala)]] and Metropolitan Cathedral
*''Mercado Central'' (central market)
*''Biblioteca Nacional'' (national library)
===Zone 2===
*''Mapa en Relieve'' (giant map of Guatemala) and surrounding parks [http://www.funtec-guatemala.org/page6.html]
===Zone 4===
*[[Centro Cultural Miguel Ángel Asturias]]
*[[Cuatro Grados Norte]] trendy pedestrian area
Visa Immigration Office for ALL foreigners
===Zone 7===
* [[Kaminaljuyu]] and Museo Miraflores [http://www.museomiraflores.com/]
=== Zone 9 ===
* [[Torre del Reformador]] tower
* ''Parque de la Industria'', fairgrounds [http://www.coperex.com.gt/]
*[[Avenida Reforma]] and [[Obelisco (Guatemala City)|El Obelisco]], a parklike boulevard
===Zone 10===
*''Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena'' (mayan dress museum) [http://www.museoixchel.org/]
*Museo [[Popol Vuh]] [http://www.popolvuh.ufm.edu.gt/]
*[[Zona Viva]] entertainment district
*Botanical garden [http://www.natureserve.org/nhp/lacarb/guate/jardin_botanico.htm]
===Zone 13===
*''Museo de Arqueología y Etnología'' (archaeological museum) [http://www.deguate.com/infocentros/entretenimiento/arteycultura/arteycultura/museo-arque.htm]
*[[La Aurora Zoo]] [http://aurorazoo.org.gt/pages/intro.php]
== 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 solely by bus. Guatemala City does not have an efficient public transportation service, despite the many proposals and projects for the construction of a mass transit system. Although the construction of freeways and underpasses by the municipal government, as well as the establishment of the Department of Metropolitan Transit Police, PMT, has helped traffic flow in the city, the Guatemalan metropolitan area faces a growing transportation problem. However, a new project called [[Transmetro]], consisting of special-purpose lanes for high-capacity buses, began operating in 2007 and aims to improve traffic flow in the city.[http://transmetro.muniguate.com/]
== Universities ==
There are 10 universities, Universidad Mariano Gálvez, Universidad Panamericana, Universidad Mesoamericana, Universidad Rafael Landivar, [[Universidad Francisco Marroquin]], [[Universidad del Valle de Guatemala|Universidad del Valle]], Universidad del Istmo, [[Galileo University|Universidad Galileo]], Universidad Rural and [[Universidad de San Carlos]], the mother only public one and third oldest university in the New World.
== Sports ==
Guatemala City possesses several sportsgrounds and is home to many sports clubs. [[Association football|Football]] is the most popular sport, with [[Comunicaciones]], [[CSD Municipal]], and [[Aurora FC]] being the main clubs. The [[Estadio Mateo Flores]], located in the Zone 5 of the city, is the largest stadium in the country, followed in capacity by the [[Estadio Cementos Progreso]] and the [[Estadio del Ejército]]. An important multi-functional hall is the [[Domo Polideportivo de la CDAG]].
The city has hosted several international sports events: in 1950 it hosted the [[1950 Central American and Caribbean Games|VI Central American and Caribbean Games]], and in 2000 the [[FIFA Futsal World Championship]]. On July 4, 2007 the [[International Olympic Committee]] gathered in Guatemala City and voted [[Sochi]] to become the host for the [[2014 Winter Olympics]].[http://www.rga-online.de/sport/topnews.php?publikation=2&template=phparttext_tt&ausgabe=42929&redaktion=1&artikel=108623013]
Guatemala City was announced in November 2007 to host the [[2008 CONCACAF Futsal Championship|2008 edition]] of the [[North and Central American Futsal Championship|CONCACAF Futsal Championship]], played at the Domo Polideportivo from [[June 2]] to [[June 8]] 2008.<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/futsal/viewArticle.asp?lang=en&id=4024
| author =
| publisher = [[CONCACAF]]
| title = 2008 CONCACAF Futsal Championship to take place in Guatemala
| accessdate = 2008-03-29}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/futsal/viewArticle.asp?lang=en&id=4097
| author =
| publisher = [[CONCACAF]]
| title = 2008 CONCACAF Futsal Championship Logo Unveiled
| accessdate = 2008-03-29}}
</ref>
== Natural disasters ==
=== Earthquakes ===
Guatemala City has been affected several times by [[earthquakes]]. The worst quakes were registered in 1917/1918 and [[Guatemala 1976 earthquake|1976]].
=== Volcanic activity ===
There are four [[volcanoes]] visible from the city (Two of them are active). The most active and nearest is the [[Pacaya]], who erupts once in a while, expelling a considerable amount of ash, what frequently leads to the closure of [[La Aurora International Airport]]. [http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/central_america/guatemala/pacaya/gvn/sepgvn.html]
=== Mudslides ===
Due to heavy rainfalls some of the humble neighborhoods built at the edge of steep valleys are frequently washed away and buried under mudslides, as in October 2005 [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051007/news_1n7stan.html].
=== Sinkhole ===
In February of 2007 a large [[sinkhole]] opened in a poor neighborhood in northeast Guatemala city, killing three people. The sinkhole was 100.5m (330 feet) deep, and apparently was created by fluid from a sewer dissolving the rock underneath. As a result, some one thousand people have been evacuated from the area. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/23/world/main2508879.shtml]
== Zona Viva ==
Zone Ten or the [[Zona Viva]] along with being the financial district of the city it is among the most popular areas for pop culture, shopping and entertainment. Zone ten is where most of the hotels, restaurants, bars, discotheques, and other entertainment places in the city are located. Also, many of the embassies are located in Zone Ten.
== Sister Cities ==
*[[Image:Flag of Mexico.svg|20px]] [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
*[[Image:Flag of Bolivia.svg|20px]] [[La Paz]], [[Bolivia]]
*[[Image:Flag of El Salvador.svg|20px]] [[San Salvador]], [[El Salvador]]
*[[Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg|20px]] [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], [[Puerto Rico]]
*[[Taipei]], [[Republic of China]]
*[[Tenerife]], [[Canary Islands]]
== Sons and daughters of the city==
*[[Miguel Ángel Asturias]] writer and diplomat
*[[Carlos Mérida]] painter
*[[Carlos Ruíz]] soccer player
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== See also ==
{{Commonscat|Ciudad Guatemala}}
* [[2007 Guatemala earthquake]]
* [[La Aurora International Airport]]
* {{wikitravel}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.muniguate.com/ Official Website of the Municipalidad de Guatemala]
* [http://www.visitguatemala.com INGUAT]
{{Cities in Guatemala}}
{{Department of Guatemala}}
{{Cities in Central America}}
{{North American capitals}}
[[Category:Guatemala City| ]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Guatemala]]
[[Category:Capitals in Central America]]
[[Category:Capitals in North America]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1773]]
[[ar:مدينة غواتيمالا]]
[[bn:গুয়াতেমালা সিটি]]
[[be-x-old:Гватэмала (горад)]]
[[br:Ciudad de Guatemala]]
[[bg:Гватемала (град)]]
[[ca:Ciutat de Guatemala]]
[[cs:Ciudad de Guatemala]]
[[da:Ciudad Guatemala]]
[[de:Guatemala-Stadt]]
[[et:Guatemala (linn)]]
[[es:Ciudad de Guatemala]]
[[eo:Gvatemalurbo]]
[[eu:Guatemala Hiria]]
[[fa:گواتمالاسیتی]]
[[fr:Guatemala (ville)]]
[[gd:Baile Guatemala]]
[[gl:Cidade de Guatemala - Ciudad de Guatemala]]
[[ko:과테말라 시]]
[[hr:Guatemala (grad)]]
[[io:Guatemala-Urbo]]
[[id:Kota Guatemala]]
[[is:Gvatemalaborg]]
[[it:Città del Guatemala]]
[[he:גואטמלה סיטי]]
[[sw:Guatemala City]]
[[ht:Siwdad]]
[[lt:Gvatemala (miestas)]]
[[hu:Guatemalaváros]]
[[nl:Guatemala-stad]]
[[ja:グアテマラシティ]]
[[no:Guatemala by]]
[[nov:Guatemala Urbe]]
[[oc:Ciutat de Guatemala]]
[[pms:Sità ëd Guatemala]]
[[pl:Gwatemala (miasto)]]
[[pt:Cidade da Guatemala]]
[[ro:Ciudad de Guatemala]]
[[qu:Watimala llaqta]]
[[ru:Гватемала (город)]]
[[sk:Guatemala (mesto)]]
[[sl:Ciudad Guatemala]]
[[sr:Гватемала (град)]]
[[fi:Guatemala (kaupunki)]]
[[sv:Guatemala City]]
[[tl:Lungsod ng Guatemala]]
[[th:กัวเตมาลาซิตี]]
[[vi:Thành phố Guatemala]]
[[tr:Guatemala (şehir)]]
[[uk:Гватемала (місто)]]
[[vo:Ciudad de Guatemala]]
[[zh:瓜地馬拉市]]