Alta Verapaz Department

Alta Verapaz Department
Departamento de Alta Verapaz
Sachichaj Reserve
Finca La Aurora
Alta Verapaz
Coordinates: 15°30′N 90°20′W / 15.500°N 90.333°W / 15.500; -90.333
Country Guatemala
CapitalCobán
Largest citySan Pedro Carchá
Municipalities16
Government
  TypeDepartmental
  GovernorFernando Jeremías Rodríguez Klarck
Area
8,686 km2 (3,354 sq mi)
Highest elevation
2,800 m (9,200 ft)
Lowest elevation
300 m (1,000 ft)
Population
 (2018)
1,215,038
  Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
  Urban
379,708
  Ethnicities
Q'eqchi'
Poqomchiʼ
Ladino
  Religions
Roman Catholicism
Evangelicalism
Maya
Time zoneUTC-6
ISO 3166 codeGT-AV

15°30′N 90°20′W / 15.500°N 90.333°W / 15.500; -90.333

Alta Verapaz (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈalta βeɾaˈpas]) is a department in the north central part of Guatemala. The capital and chief city of the department is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered to the north by El Petén, to the east by Izabal, to the south by Zacapa, El Progreso, and Baja Verapaz, and to the west by El Quiché.

Also in Alta Verapaz are the towns of Chisec, San Pedro Carchá and San Cristóbal Verapaz.