Sayaxché
Sayaxché | |
|---|---|
Ferry across Río de la Pasión in Sayaxché | |
| Coordinates: 16°31′N 90°11′W / 16.517°N 90.183°W | |
| Country | Guatemala |
| Department | El Petén |
| Found | 1874 |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,904 km2 (1,507 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 125 m (410 ft) |
| Population (2012) | |
• Total | 114,781 |
| Climate | Am |
| Website | Official website |
Sayaxché (Spanish pronunciation: [saʝaʃˈtʃe]) is a municipality in the El Petén department of Guatemala, on the Río La Pasión River. It covers an area of 3,904 square kilometres or 1,507 square miles, and had 55,578 inhabitants at the 2002 Census; the latest official estimate (as at mid-2012) was 114,781 inhabitants.
The city was founded in 1874 to provide accommodation for forest workers of Jamet Sastré logging company. It obtained municipal status in 1929.
El Rosario National Park is located just east of the town. The archaeological sites of Ceibal and Dos Pilas are located within the municipal boundaries.