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GEOGRAPHY: The Land and the People: GUATEMALA

This Libguide is designed to provide information about how geography affects the development of a country, and the people in that country.

MAP OF GUATEMALA

                        

                                   

                                 

                         

 

 

PREGUNTA PRIMERA

 

La geografia de un pais affecta el desarrollo del pais.  Explica.

[How does the geography of a country affect the development of that country?]

PREGUNTA SEGUNDA

 

La geografia de un pais affecta su gente.  Explica.

[How does the geography of a country affect the people of that country?]

ARTICULOS

A GEOGRAPHIC WONDER

 

Semuc Champey is a series of limestone bridges and caves located in Central Guatemala.

A BRIEF LOOK AT THE ECONOMY OF GUATEMALA

The land supports (pluses):  Guatemala is a particularly livable, attractive and self-sustaining country. Within its borders, Guatemala has exuberant vegetation, varied fauna, many ecosystems and a relatively large amount of coastline (about 400 kilometers!). Coastline is important because it provides people with access to water, increasing their ability to fight disease. Also, coastline supports a thriving fishing industry.

 

 

 

 

The land challenges (negatives):  The mountains of Guatemala present a real challenge to their inhabitants. Small communities of people live high in the mountains, in virtual isolation, using their own language and honoring their own customs. Although Spanish is the official language of Guatemala, there are 21 different Mayan languages. This language barrier makes it difficult for different mountain communities to collaborate, communicate and protect themselves from outside dangers. The other serious danger the geography poses is the extraordinary number of volcanoes that threaten to wreak havoc to nearby inhabited regions.

PIENSALO

 

Geography has an impact on how people live from the resources they have access to to how they move through the world.  Their history, risks and comfort are all determined by where they sit on the map.

 

1. It impacts the resources you have access to (and their quality)

2. It determines how you (and goods) travel

3. It influences your culture: Nature has long since been a source of inspiration for poets, writers, songwriters and artists throughout history, and the products of their creativity often become a lasting part of our culture. 

4. It might put you at risk or keep you safe: Depending on where you live, you may be aware of geographic risks that a person in another country may not ever face (e.g.tsunamis in Thailand, avalanches in Switzerland, droughts in the Middle East)  The risk of natural disasters also impacts creativity and development -- like a new building technology developed in Japan to stop buildings from crumbling in earthquakes.

5. It can often determine your history : If you live in a country that has natural resources like oil, diamonds, copper, cobalt, for example, chances are other countries want those resources too.  Often this can be the difference between living in a peaceful nation and surviving a war.

CONCEPTAS IMPORTANTES al PERTENCIA A GEOGRAFIA

 

Piensa en estos conceptos y haz conexiones:

 

  • RESOURCES [recursos]
  • TRAVEL/TRANSPORTATION [viajar y transporte]
  • CULTURE [cultura]
  • RISKS [riesgos
  • HISTORY [historia]