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Tikal National Park

national park, Guatemala
Also known as: Parque Nacional Tikal

Quick Summary

Tikal National Park is home to the ancient Maya city of Tikal, the largest urban center in the southern Maya lowlands. Located in northern Guatemala's Petén region, Tikal was a significant ceremonial center that grew from a small village in the Middle Formative Period to its peak during the Late Classic Period (600-900 CE).1

The park, established in the 1950s, showcases impressive Maya architecture, including five pyramidal temples and three acropoles, which served as temples and palaces for the elite. Tikal's major structures, such as the Temple of the Jaguar and the Temple of the Masks, demonstrate the artistic and architectural achievements of the Maya civilization. The site was abandoned by the 10th century CE. Tikal National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.12

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