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30 Interesting Facts About Guatemala

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With a population of more than 16.5 million, Guatemala is the most populated country in Central America. Guatemala has one of the lowest Human Development Index  (HDI) in the whole Latin American region. The country is just above Haiti and Honduras in this aspect. ( Source ) Guatemala has one of the highest rates of femicide  (murder of a female due to gender) in the world, only behind  El Salvador , Honduras, and  South Africa . In 2008, it also became the first country to recognize femicide  officially. ( Source ) It is generally recognized that human life started in Guatemala around 12,000 years ago. But there are few evidences that Guatemala is the  first human settlement  in Central America, with its initial human existence in 18,000 B.C. ( Source ) Guatemala’s politics after its independence came under the influence of  American fruit companies (especially the United Fruit Company). Therefore like a few other Central American countries (e.g. Honduras ), it was also labeled as

30+ Interesting Facts About Ecuador

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Ecuador is a small country in South America. The imaginary line of the equator passes through more than ten countries. However, Ecuador is the only country named after this line that bisects earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The majority population (around 70%) of Ecuador is composed of  Mestizos  (mixed European and Amerindian descent). It is one of the highest in  South America . Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is the  2 nd  highest capital city  in the world. It is located at an altitude of 9,350 feet above sea level. ( Source ) Galapagos Islands and the city of Quito (both in Ecuador) are two of the 12  earliest  UNESCO World heritage  sites . The UNESCO ID of these two sites is 1 and 2, respectively. ( Source ) In 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to recognize the rights of nature . This law makes the ecosystem the defendant. There are around 25,000 species of vascular  plants  in Ecuador. Comparatively, there are just 17,000 plant species in th