GUATEMALA ~Lake Atitlán - UNESCO~

“Gorgeous looking view of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world...Thanks Alé!

Photo © M. Cattelan Lake Atitlán with its surface of 130 sq. km is the third largest freshwater lake in Guatemala. It is situated in the district of Sololá in the western highlands of Guatemala. The lake is approx. 18 km wide and 10 km long and lies at an altitude of 1,562 m. It is surrounded by three volcanoes: Atitlán (3,537 m), Tolimán (3,158 m) and San Pedro (2,995 m), which compose an imposing panorama around the highland lake.

Lake Atitlán lies in a crater, created by a great eruption of a volcano, the Chocoyos Eruption, approx. 85,000 years ago. As there is no outlet, the water level rose over the past years through the inlets of the principal rivers of the basin. The deepest point detected is approximately 340 m.

It has been selected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The word "atitlan" is a Mayan word that translates as "the place where the rainbow gets its colors." Indigenous communities live around the lake and more than forty archaeological sites have been identified.


Stamps:
The fight against discrimination
(Issued 06-08-2014)
Gastronomy - Food
(Issued 04-03-2014)

GUATEMALA ~ Antigua - UNESCO ~

 Fantastic view of the famous Antigua arch, one of the cities most known landmarks...nowadays Antigua is a quiet university town in the heart of Guatemala... Thanks Alé!

The Santa Catalina Arch, arch is what remains from a tunnel that linked the two buildings to its left and right. Originally constructed to allow cloistered nuns to travel from a convent to a school without stepping outdoors.

A carpet made from flowers, plants, pine needles, dyed sawdust and sand, typical of Semana Santa (Holy Week)  that line the routes of the processions with  designs of Spanish and Mayan traditional images.

Antigua Guatemala  is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque influenced architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches.  It was founded in the early 16th century, 1,500 m above sea-level, in an earthquake-prone region.
Antigua  town is as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.

 © Photo José M. González

Stamps:
Animals in danger of extinction.                  Baktun Maya Calender                                                                                      
(Issued 04-07-2014)                                            (Issued 17-12-2012)                                  

GUATEMALA ~Tikal -UNESCO ~

Great start of a new week adding a new country to my collection (with 2 cards^^)...a fantastic view of the largest city of the ancient Maya civilization's hidden in the jungle...people celebrating  the Día de la Raza ("day of the race" or "day of the hispanic people"), commemorating the first encounters of Europeans and Native Americans...this day unites all Spanish speaking nations and cultures in celebration with parades, dances and  food. Thanks a lot Ale!!


With great stamps and special postmark:
Typical Costumes of Guatemala
(Issued 17-05-2O11)
National tree
(Issued 14-09-2011)
Fine Arts
(Issued 15-12-2010)

Tikal is a beautiful Mayan City and  one of Guatemala’s most important Touristic destinations. It can be found in the Peten department of Guatemala, in the middle of one of Central America's largest rainforest.

Tikal is also known for being the largest city of the Mayan Classic Period. It was considered a political and social center.

Tikal really means  “Lugar de Las Voces” (place of voices).

 It was the first place to be declared Human Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979 for two things. Its archaeological and its ecological value.

It was used as the scenario for one of the star wars movies and used as a model for one of Mel Gibson’s movies: Apocalipto.

GUATEMALA ~Chichicastenango market~

...And here postcard nr 2 of Guatemala...a wonderful typical market scene with a mix of colors, flowers,fruit, vegetables, people, traditions...Thanks so much again Ale!!

With great stamps and special postmark:
Typical Costumes of Guatemala
(Issued 17-05-2O11)
2 stamps History - Baktun Mayan Calendar
 (Issued 17-12-2012)

Chichicastenango, located about 140 km northwest of Guatemala City, is home to what is surely the most colorful native market in North and Central America, perhaps in all the Americas. The city is well known for its famous market days on Thursdays and Sundays.The city  is located in the mountains at 6,447 feet (1,965m)

Chichicastenango represent the linguistic groups of the Mam, Ixil, and Kaqchikel.