GUATEMALA (gwb.-ta-m5.15.), a re public of Central America, bounded by Mexico, Belize, Honduras, San Salva dor, Gulf of Honduras, and the Pacific Ocean; area, 48,290 square miles; pop. about 2,000,000. Number of depart ments, 22; and capital, Guatemala la Nueva. Pop. 90,000.
Topography.—The country is exceed ingly mountainous and elevated, the main chain of the continuation of the Andes traversing it S. E. to N. W., and sending off numerous branches. Along the main chain are a number of volcanoes, among which are Fuego, over 12,000 feet high, which sends forth torrents of water, and Tajumulco, 14, 403 feet high. The country is well wa tered by numerous streams, none of much importance. There are several lakes, the most important being Dulce, through which a great part of the foreign trade of the state is carried on, Amatitlan, Atitlan, and Peten.
Climate and Productions.— On the tableland, of which a considerable por tion of the state is formed, the climate is mild; but in more elevated situations the cold is intense. There is much valu able timber. The soil generally is of great fertility, producing, according to altitude, soil, etc., maize, wheat, rice, coffee, cotton, tobacco, sugar, cochineal, cacao, indigo, vegetables, and tropical fruits in great variety. Fiber plants are numerous, including ramie, henequen, and others. In the altos or mountainous parts of the N. W. considerable flocks of sheep are raised, the wool of which is manufacturel into coarse fabrics. There were in 191`) about 1,500 coffee planta tions under cultivation, producing about 100,000,000 pounds annually. Over 50 per cent. of the coffee plantations of the country were owned by Germans. The yield of sugar, which is next after coffee, the most important product, is about 45,000 pounds annually. Other impor tant agricultural products are bananas. beans and wheat. The department of Peten is rich in mahogany and dye woods of which there is a considerable trade in the United States. The chicle, or gum industry, also has its center in this province. About 500,000 pounds are
obtained annually. Cotton is grown in small quantities. There are deposits of silver, gold, copper, iron, and lead, but these are little developed on account of the lack of transportation.
Commerce.—The total imports in 1918 amounted to £1,326,800, and the exports to £2„263,800. The most important im ports are cotton, foodstuffs, linen, hemp and jute, paper, iron and steel, and leather. The most important exports are coffee, bananas, sugar, hides, timber, and rubber. The greater part of the trade is with the United States. The exports to the United States for the fiscal year 1920 amounted to $16,347, 595, and the exports from the United States amounted to $10,309,233. In 1919 600 vessels, with about 700,000 tons, entered the ports of the republic.
Communciations. — The Guatemala railway, 195 miles in length; the Guate mala Central railway, 139 miles; the Occidental railway, 51 miles; and the Ocos railway, 22 miles, were incorpo rated in 1912 as the International Rail way of Central America. The main line extends from Puerto Barrios to Guate mala City, a distance of about 194 miles, then to San Jose de Guatemala on the Pacific Ocean, a distance of about 75 miles. A further addition to the rail road was purchased in 1914 and an ex tension was built in the same year. Ad ditional railway construction was under way in 1920. There are about 5,000 miles of telegraph wire and about 535 miles of telephone wire.
Education.—Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 to 14. There are about 2,000 government schools, including primary schools, training schools, night schools, and rural schools, and about 60,000 pupils in the elementary schools. The University of Guatemala was estab lished in 1918. The total expenditure for education is about $160,000 annually.
Finance.—The revenue in 1919 was $110,937,325, and the expenditure $77, 666,023. The external debt was about $7,000,000 and the internal debt $135, 799,843.