Petén Department

department of Guatemala

Petén is a department of the nation of Guatemala. It is geographically the most northern department of Guatemala. It is also the largest in size — at 12,960 square miles (33,600 km2). It is about one third of Guatemala's area. The capital is Flores. The population in 2005 was about 450,000.

El Petén
Department
Flag of El Petén
Coat of arms of El Petén
El Petén
El Petén
Coordinates: 16°54′N 89°54′W / 16.900°N 89.900°W / 16.900; -89.900
CountryGuatemala
DepartmentPetén Department
CapitalFlores
Municipalities12
Government
 • TypeDepartmental
Area
 • Department35,854 km2 (13,843 sq mi)
Population
 (Census 2002)[1]
 • Department366,735
 • Urban
110,399
 • Ethnicities
Ladino Mopan Lacandon Itza Q'eqchi'
 • Religions
Roman Catholicism Evangelicalism
Time zone-6

The Petén department was formed by the Guatemalan government on 8 May 1866.

Geography change

 
Ferry crossing the Pasión River at Sayaxché.

The Petén department is bordered on the east by Belize and by Mexico on the north and west. To the south it borders the Guatemalan departments of Alta Verapaz and Izabal. Much of the western border with Mexico is formed by the Usumacinta River and its tributary the Salinas River. Parts of the southern border of the department are formed by the rivers Gracias a Dios and Santa Isabel.

The main bodies of water in the department are the lakes Petén Itzá, Peténchel, Quexil, Salpetén and Macanche in the centre of the department; Yaxhá and Sacnab in the east, Petexbatún in the southwest, and Perdida, Larga, La Gloria, San Diego, Mendoza, El Repasto and Lacandón in the west.

Municipalities change

  1. Dolores
  2. Flores
  3. La Libertad
  4. Las Cruces
  5. Melchor de Mencos
  6. Poptún
  7. San Andrés
  8. San Benito
  9. San Francisco
  10. San José
  11. San Luis
  12. Santa Ana
  13. Sayaxché

References change

  1. "XI Censo Nacional de Poblacion y VI de Habitación (Censo 2002)". INE. 2002.