Petén Itzá, Lake

Lake, northern Guatemala.

It is about 27 mi (48 km) long and covers an area of 38 sq mi (98 sq km). The region was a stronghold of the Maya Itzá Indians, who were not conquered by the Spanish until 1697. The lakeshore is now dotted with towns such as Flores and San Benito. Much of the surrounding land is covered with dense rainforest, but there is some cultivation of cacao, sugarcane, and tropical fruits around Flores.

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▪ lake, Guatemala

Spanish  Lago Petén Itzá 

      lake, northern Guatemala, 160 miles (260 km) northeast of Guatemala City. A depression in the low limestone plateau at an elevation of 262 feet (80 metres) above sea level, it measures about 22 miles (35 km) from east to west and 10 miles (16 km) from north to south and is 165 feet (50 metres) deep; its area is 40 square miles (100 square km). It has no visible outlet, because its drainage is underground. Once the stronghold of the Itzá Maya, who were not conquered by the Spanish until 1697, the shores of the lake are now dotted with modern towns: Flores, which lies on an island in the southwestern portion of the lake; San Benito, in the southwest; and San Andrés, on the northwestern shore. Much of the surrounding land is covered by dense tropical rainforest, but there is some cultivation of cacao (the source of cocoa beans), sugarcane, grains, and tropical fruits around Flores.

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