Alta Verapaz

Alta Verapaz is a depairtment in the north central pairt o Guatemala. The caipital an chief ceety o the depairtment is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered tae the north bi El Petén, tae the east bi Izabal, tae the sooth bi Zacapa, El Progreso, an Baja Verapaz, an tae the wast bi El Quiché.

An aw in Alta Verapaz are the touns o Chisec, San Pedro Carchá an San Cristóbal Verapaz.

 History
In Pre-Columbie times this aurie wis pairt o the Maya ceevilization.  When the Spaingie Conquistadores came in the 1520s thay conquered the central an soothren heichlands o Guatemala, but wur driven back frae this region bi fierce native resistance. Spaingie friars asked the unsuspicious natives for a chance tae "peacefully" convert the land tae Christianity, which thay succeeded in, giein the aurie the name "Verapaz" meanin "True Peace" syne it wis sae cunningly brocht tae Christianity an control o the king o Spain athoot warfare. In the 19t century this became an important coffee producin region.

As a result o the Mexican Drog War, the Los Zetas drog cartel members owerteuk hintle o the depairtment an occupee'd mony touns in December 2010. The Guatemalan govrenment declared a state o siege on December 19 tae reclaim the depairtment, allouin the militar an polis forces tae sairch an reest ony suspects athout a warrant, an at least saxteen biggins wur searched.

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

References

Freemit airtins

 Chelemhá cloud forest reserve in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala 
 Interactive map of the department
 Radio and Alta Verapaz, Guatemala - article by Don Moore 


Category:Depairtments o Guatemala