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El
Peten, in northeast Guatemala, represents the largest
tropical forest in Central America, containing ruins,
great and small, from the ancient Maya civilization.
The crown jewel among the Peten's 13,000 square miles
is Tikal, a sprawling complex of more than 3,000 structures.
The ruins of Ceibal, Aguateca, and Yaxha contribute
to the Peten's standing as the heartland of the Maya.
Countless more ruins still lie shrouded by dense forest
overgrowth in the Peten, which contains over 800 species
of trees, 57 species of reptiles, and 500 species of
birds. Tapirs, peccararies and jaguars still roam the
emerald forests, just as they did when the ancient Maya
ruled the region. |
