Mazatenango

Mazatenango, town, southwestern Guatemala. It lies along the southward-flowing Sis River, on the southern piedmont of the central highlands, at an elevation of 1,217 feet (371 metres) above sea level. Mazatenango is an important commercial and manufacturing centre for the Pacific coastal lowlands that it overlooks. Cotton, coffee, sugarcane, cacao (the source of cocoa beans), tropical fruits, and rubber are the principal crops. Cotton and its seed are processed for textiles and oil. Mazatenango lies about 120 miles (190 km) from Guatemala City, with which it is connected by road and rail, and is a transportation centre for traffic from the Pacific ports. Pop. (2002) 40,281.