Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize and the Caribbean to the northeast, Honduras to the east, El Salvador to the southeast and the Pacific Ocean to the south. It is the most populous country in Central America
Guatemala is a representative democracy; its capital and largest city is Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, also known as Guatemala City
From 1960 to 1996, Guatemala endured a bloody civil war fought between the US-backed government and leftist rebels. Since a United Nations-negotiated peace accord, Guatemala has achieved both economic growth and successful democratic elections, although it continues to struggle with high rates of poverty, crime, drug trade, and instability.
Guatemala’s abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems includes many endemic species and contributes to Mesoamerica’s designation as a biodiversity hotspot.
These amazing photos were taken by Chilean photographer Marcelo Montecino that documented everyday life of Guatemala in the 1980s.
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| Chichicastenango melancholy, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango child, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango street scenes, 1984 |
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| Chichicastenango, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango. Church of Santo Tomas, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango. Devotions, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango. Los Cofrades (Cofrades are the elders of a town and perform civil and religious duties), 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango. The chat, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango. The consultation, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango. The friends, 1982 |
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| Chichicastenango. The haircut, 1984 |
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| Chichicastenango. The market closes, 1984 |
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| Chichicastenango. The market closes, 1984 |
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| Chichicastenango. The preacher, 1984 |
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| Chichicastenango. Tipsy man walks home, 1982 |
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| Civil Defense Patrols, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| Civil Defense Patrols, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| Evangelicals in Guatemala, 1982 |
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| Farmer, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| Farmers, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| Garbage workers, Guatemala, 1987 |
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| Garbage workers, Guatemala, 1987 |
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| Garbage workers, Guatemala, 1987 |
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| Guatemala street scenes, 1982 |
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| Guatemala street scenes, 1986 |
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| Huehuetenango. Kaibiles, 1982 |
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| Indians killing Indians, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| Los Encuentros, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| Patron Saint's Day, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| Patron Saint's Day, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| Pavón Prison, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| Pavón Prison, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| Refugee camp, Ixil Triangle, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| Refugee camp, Ixil Triangle, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| Refugees, Ixil Triangle, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| Refugees, Ixil Triangle, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| Refugees, Ixil Triangle, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| Rural school, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| The beauty, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| The funeral, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| The gossip, Guatemala, 1984 |
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| The occupied village, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| The occupied village, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| The occupied village, Guatemala, 1982 |
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| The portrait, Guatemala, 1982 |
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That was a pretty rough time in their history. A lot more smiling faces now but still tough to eke out a meager existence in this beautiful but poor country. Lake Atitlan, colonial town of Antigua, Mayan Ruins in Tikal and Market Day in Chi Chi all make for a nice introduction to Guatemala.
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