San Martín Sacatepéquez facts for kids
San Martín Sacatepéquez is a town in Guatemala. It is one of 24 towns, called municipalities, in the Quetzaltenango area. San Martín Sacatepéquez covers about 100 square kilometers (39 square miles). The town center is high up, about 2,450 meters (8,038 feet) above sea level. Around 28,926 people live in this municipality.
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Exploring San Martín's Geography
San Martín Sacatepéquez is located where the land changes from high mountains to warmer plains. This area is part of a chain of volcanoes.
Where is San Martín Located?
To the southwest of San Martín, you'll find the Boca Costa. This area has rich soil and is warmer and more tropical. It sits at elevations from 300 to 1,800 meters (980 to 5,900 feet) above sea level. To the northeast, the land is higher and colder. This area, called the altiplano, has lots of volcanic rock.
High Points and Weather
The altiplano ranges from 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) above sea level up to the top of the Siete Orejas Volcano. This volcano is San Martín's highest point, reaching 3,370 meters (11,060 feet) high.
Just like much of Guatemala's highlands, San Martín has two main seasons. The rainy season lasts from early May to early November. The dry season runs from early November to early May.
Discovering San Martín's Culture
Most people living in San Martín Sacatepéquez are Indigenous Maya people, specifically from the Mam group.
Language and Nicknames
The main language spoken here is Mam. San Martín is also known as San Martín Chile Verde. This nickname comes from the many green chili peppers farmers used to grow and sell in Quetzaltenango.
Sacred Sites and Traditional Clothing
The Laguna Chicabal, a beautiful crater lake, is a holy place for the Mam. It is located within San Martín's area.
San Martín is also famous for its colorful traditional clothing, known as traje. While many Maya men in Guatemala now wear Western clothes, a large number of men in San Martín still wear their traditional traje.
See also
In Spanish: San Martín Sacatepéquez para niños
