Huehuetenango

Huehuetenango on the map of Guatemala

Huehuetenango is a city in northwestern Guatemala, capital of the department of the same name.

Geography

Huehuetenango is located 269 km north-west of Guatemala City near the border with Mexico on a plateau surrounded by mountains at about 1900 meters above sea level. Just north of the running in the east-west direction mountain range of the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes rises, an offshoot of the Sierra Madre, which is itself a little further south and west. Between the mountains rises near Huehuetenango the Río Selegua, the direction of Chiapas flows in a northwesterly.

Population

The Departamentshauptstadt had about 58,000 inhabitants in 2002. Huehuetenango is the administrative seat of the greater community ( municipality ), which has an area of 204 km ² and 81,000 inhabitants ( 2002). The municipality is divided into Aldeas ( rural communities ) and Caseríos, Parajes or fincas ( hamlets and farms ). In the town Ladinos predominate, living in the country mainly Mam - Maya.

History

Huehuetenango was founded in 1525 by the Spanish colonizers after the conquest of Zaculeu, capital of the Mam, in the immediate vicinity. The town's name probably derives from Gonzalo de Alvarado's Mexican mercenaries who botched the Mayan name Xinabajul ( " Between the gorges " ) to Ahuehuetlenango ("place of the old "). The ruins of Zaculeu are a tourist attraction today. Many descendants of the Mam Maya still live in and around Huehuetenango. From the raging 1960-1996 civil war, they were greatly affected, especially during the short, cruel term of office coming from Huehuetenango President Efrain Rios Montt.

The Fiestas Julias in honor of the patron saint Virgen del Carmen is celebrated annually on 16 July.

Economy and Transport

Huehuetenango is the most important trade and service center of the department. The market in the old town has national significance, particularly for agricultural products. Above all, coffee is processed in the city and markets. Huehuetenango is known for the manufacture of musical instruments, especially for first-class guitars. From the tourism benefits Huehuetenango, because it is the starting point for touring the Cuchumatanes in the rule and the Mam - Zaculeu fortress, located 5 km west of the city. The city's attractions are limited to the Parque Central with the Cathedral, the Town Hall ( Palacio Municipal) and the building of the Departamentsverwaltung ( Gobernación Departamental ) with its clock tower.

About 5 km south-west leads the Pan-American Highway (CA 1 Interamericana ) past Huehuetenango, which the city is well connected with Mexico, Guatemala and the rest of the Highlands. From a few kilometers north-eastern Chiantla you can reach via the National Road 9, the Cuchumatanes mountains and sparsely populated and poorly developed north of the department, on the leading East National Road 7, the departments of Quiché and Alta Verapaz. Huehuetenango has an airfield for general aviation.

Twinning

• Since 1993: Ravensburg ( Germany ); unofficial partnership ( in particular projects on literacy )