Huehuetenango Department (Departamento de Huehuetenango)
Huehuetenango's ethnic composition is one of the most diverse in Guatemala. While the Mam are predominant in the department, other Maya groups are the Q'anjob'al, Chuj, Jakaltek, Tektik, Awakatek, Chalchitek, Akatek and K'iche'. Each of these nine Maya ethnic groups speaks its own language.
The department of Huehuetenango takes its name from the city of the same name which serves as the departmental capital. The name is derived from the Nahuatl language of central Mexico, given by the indigenous allies of the Spanish conquistadors during the Spanish Conquest of Guatemala. It is usually said to mean "place of the elders" but may be a corruption of "place of the ahuehuete trees".
Map - Huehuetenango Department (Departamento de Huehuetenango)
Map
Country - Guatemala
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
---|---|---|---|
GTQ | Guatemalan quetzal | Q | 2 |
ISO | Language |
---|---|
ES | Spanish language |