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'Alta Verapaz' is a department in the north central part of Guatemala. The capital and chief city of the department is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered to the north by El Petén, to the east by Izabal, to the south by Zacapa, El Progreso, and Baja Verapaz, and to the west by El Quiché.
Also in Alta Verapaz are the towns of Rabinal, Chisec, San Pedro Carchá and San Cristóbal Verapaz.

Contents

History

Municipalities

External links

History

In Pre-Columbian times this area was part of the Maya civilization. When the Spanish Conquistadores came in the 1520s they conquered the central and southern highlands of Guatemala, but were driven back from this region by fierce native resistance. Spanish friars asked the unsuspicious natives for a chance to "peacefully" convert the land to Christianity, which they succeeded in, giving the area the name "Verapaz" meaning "True Peace" since it was so cunningly brought to Christianity and control of the King of Spain without warfare. In the 19th century this became an important coffee producing region.In 2005, the Rabinal Achí, a Maya K'iche' play from Rabinal, was declared 'Materpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of the Humanity', by the UNESCO

Municipalities

# Chahal
# Chisec
# Cobán
# Fray Bartolomé de las Casas
# Lanquín
# Panzós
# San Cristóbal Verapaz
# San Juan Chamelco
# San Pedro Carchá
# Santa Cruz Verapaz
# Santa María Cahabón
# Senahú
# Tactic
# Tamahú
# Tucurú
# Santa Catalina la Tinta

External links

★ Interactive map of the department

★ Radio and Alta Verapaz, Guatemala - article by Don Moore