Jalapa (Guatemala)
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Coordinates: 14 ° 38 ′ N , 90 ° 0 ′ W Jalapa on the map of Guatemala
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| Basic data | ||
| Country | Guatemala | |
| Department | Jalapa | |
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| Detailed data | ||
Jalapa is a city in Guatemala and the administrative seat of the Jalapa department and the municipality of the same name , which has about 120,000 inhabitants.
Location and climate
The city is located about 100 km east of Guatemala City at the foot of the Jumay volcano and the Alcoba Mountains in the middle of a highland plateau at an altitude of 1,362 m. There are usually only detours to get to Jalapa from Guatemala City. Jalapa is known for its temperate climate.
Economy and tourism
A wide variety of agricultural products are produced in and around Jalapa, including coffee , potatoes, corn , beans, bananas , cassava , tobacco and sugar cane . The breeding of horses and cattle is important. Jalapa is known for its hard cheese and butter. Forestry, handicrafts and the service sector are also important. Ornamental plants are exported.
Tourism only plays a subordinate role. Rodeos , bullfights and cockfights are held regularly in Jalapa . There is a petrified tree in the central square of the city . Larger religious celebrations are held annually from May 2nd to 5th ( Santa Cruz ).
There is a branch of the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala in Jalapa .
history
In the colonial era, Jalapa belonged to the Corregimiento de Chiquimula . After the severe earthquake of 1773, plans were made to relocate the capital of the General Capitanate of Guatemala from Antigua Guatemala to Jalapa. An expert commission considered both the location and the climate to be suitable, but advised against developing the town into a capital due to the lack of water. Jalapa became the capital of the newly established department of the same name on November 24, 1873. The name Jalapa is derived from the Mayan term Xalapán , which means “sandy water”.