Guastatoya

Guastatoya on the map of Guatemala

Guastatoya (also El Progreso ) is a city in Guatemala and administrative headquarters of the department of El Progreso and the greater community ( municipality ) Guastatoya, which comprises 262 km ² and 20,000 inhabitants.

Location and climate

The town lies about 75 kilometers northeast of Guatemala City on 515 m height. You can reach Guastatoya on the highway to the Atlantic Ocean (CA 9). Guastatoya is located just before the start of the Motagua valley on the River Sanarate (or Río Guastatoya ). The climate is dry and hot, the temperatures are 24-39 ° C. More than 44 rainy days per year are unusual.

The municipality is in addition to the capital from the 16 rural communities ( Aldeas ) El Naranjo, Casas Viejas, Anshagua, Santa Lucía Corral Viejo, El Barreal, San Rafael, Las Morales, Santa Rita, Tierra Blanca, patache, Chilzapote, Lagunetas, Palo Amontonado, El Obraje and El Subinal.

Adjacent Municipalities are in northern Morazán, San Agustín Acasaguastlán in the Northeast, El Jícaro in the east, the south and Sansare Sanarate in the West.

Economy and Tourism

Agriculture can be due to the rocky and dry soils develop bad. Crops are beans, corn, tomatoes and various citrus fruits. Of importance is the craft. Guastatoya is known for the manufacture of hats. Some unprofitable cement plants has caused major environmental damage.

Tourism is of minor importance. The city benefited somewhat from the through traffic on the nearby highway. Since the running parallel to railway line to the Atlantic was last only used for freight traffic, is no longer Guastatoyas station in operation. However, there are plans for a resumption of rail transport for tourism purposes. In the city there is the remarkable Central Park ( Parque Central). In the area there are five water parks ( Balnearios ).

History

In colonial times, the former village to Corregimiento de Chiquimula belonged. In 1873 it came to the Department of Jalapa. After being founded in 1908 the Department of El Progreso, Guastatoya became its capital. Attempts to rename Guastatoya after the name of the department are, de facto failed. On maps there is variously called " El Progreso ( Guastatoya ) ".