Alta Verapaz is a depairtment in the north central pairt o Guatemala. The caipital an chief ceety o the depairtment is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered tae the north bi El Petén, tae the east bi Izabal, tae the sooth bi Zacapa, El Progreso, an Baja Verapaz, an tae the wast bi El Quiché.

Alta Verapaz
Depairtment
Coat of airms o Alta Verapaz
Coat airms
Alta Verapaz
Alta Verapaz
Coordinates: 15°30′N 90°20′W / 15.500°N 90.333°W / 15.500; -90.333
Kintra Guatemala
DepairtmentAlta Verapaz
CaipitalCobán
Municipalities16
Govrenment
 • TeepDepairtmental
 • GovrenorDominga Tecúm Camil
Area
 • Depairtment8686 km2 (3,354 sq mi)
Highest elevation
2800 m (9,200 ft)
Lowest elevation
300 m (1,000 ft)
Population
 (Census 2002)[1]
 • Depairtment776,246
 • Urban
163,012
 • Ethnicities
Q'eqchi' poqomchi' Ladino
 • Religions
Roman Catholicism Evangelicalism Maya
Time zone-6

An aw in Alta Verapaz are the touns o Chisec, San Pedro Carchá an San Cristóbal Verapaz.

History

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In Pre-Columbie times this aurie wis pairt o the Maya ceevilization. When the Spaingie Conquistadores came in the 1520s thay conquered the central an soothren heichlands o Guatemala, but wur driven back frae this region bi fierce native resistance. Spaingie friars asked the unsuspicious natives for a chance tae "peacefully" convert the land tae Christianity, which thay succeeded in, giein the aurie the name "Verapaz" meanin "True Peace" syne it wis sae cunningly brocht tae Christianity an control o the king o Spain athoot warfare. In the 19t century this became an important coffee producin region.

As a result o the Mexican Drog War, the Los Zetas drog cartel members owerteuk hintle o the depairtment an occupee'd mony touns in December 2010. The Guatemalan govrenment declared a state o siege on December 19 tae reclaim the depairtment, allouin the militar an polis forces tae sairch an reest ony suspects athout a warrant, an at least saxteen biggins wur searched.[2][3]

Municipalities

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  1. Chahal
  2. Chisec
  3. Cobán
  4. Fray Bartolomé de las Casas
  5. Lanquín
  6. Panzós
  7. Raxruha
  8. San Cristóbal Verapaz
  9. San Juan Chamelco
  10. San Pedro Carchá
  11. Santa Cruz Verapaz
  12. Santa María Cahabón
  13. Senahú
  14. Tactic
  15. Tamahú
  16. Tucurú
  17. Santa Catalina la Tinta

References

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  1. "XI Censo Nacional de Poblacion y VI de Habitación (Censo 2002)". INE. 2002. Archived frae the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  2. Wire Staff, the CNN (20 December 2010). "Guatemalan government declares siege to fend off drug gang". Cable News Network. Archived frae the original on 19 Januar 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2010. Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (help)
  3. AP, Google (19 December 2010). "Guatemalan military seizes drug-plagued province". The Associated Press. Retrieved 20 December 2010.[deid airtin]

Freemit airtins

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