Cuilapa
| Cuilapa | ||
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Coordinates: 14 ° 17 ′ N , 90 ° 18 ′ W Cuilapa on the map of Guatemala
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| Basic data | ||
| Country | Guatemala | |
| Department | Santa Rosa | |
| Residents | 25,000 | |
| Detailed data | ||
| surface | 365 km 2 | |
| Population density | 68 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| height | 893 m | |
| Waters | Río Esclavos | |
| Time zone | UTC −6 | |
| City Presidency | Rudy Castillo Guerra | |
| Website | ||
Cuilapa is a city in Guatemala and the administrative seat of the Department of Santa Rosa and the large municipality ( Municipio ) Cuilapa, which extends over 365 km² and has about 25,000 inhabitants.
Location and climate
The city is located about 50 km southeast of Guatemala City in the southern foothills of the central highlands at an altitude of 893 m. Cuilapa is the geographical center of the American double continent , which is commemorated by a monument in the city center. You can reach Cuilapa from Guatemala City on the Interamericana (CA 1) to El Salvador . The climate in Cuilapa is temperate, temperatures fluctuate between 20 and 28 ° C.
Economy and tourism
Traditionally the most important economic sector in Cuilapas is agriculture and in particular the cultivation of coffee , sugar cane , wheat and various citrus fruits . In addition, cattle and horse breeding is also important.
Tourism only plays a subordinate role. The bridge over the Río de Los Esclavos, built in 1592, is worth seeing four kilometers from the city.
history
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, members of the Xinca settled in the area of today's city of Cuilapa . These were subjugated and enslaved, which is reminiscent of the name of the river Esclavos and a place of the same name southeast of Cuilapa. By 1600, a village was built on the site of the present city, which was given the name Cuajiniquilapa by Mexican mercenaries . In 1791 the city was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. After independence from Spain, Cuilapa became the seat of a district administration in 1825, and then capital of the newly founded department of Santa Rosa in 1852 .
On March 8, 1913, an earthquake destroyed the city again, but the citizens rebuilt it completely by October 1920.