In its physical aspects Guatemala is a country of mountains, tropical forests, lakes and rivers and coast plains. It was described by Humboldt more than one hundred years ago as extremely fertile and well cultivated, and this description holds good to-day, though there are vast areas of rich agricultural land yet open to profitable cultivation and only awaiting immigration to develop their richness. The Guatemalan Andes consist of three minor mountain systems. These are the northern zone, chiefly of denuded cones, 1,500 to 2,000 feet in height, with plains lying between them; the central zone consisting of ranges and chains running east and west with many marked elevations rising from 7,000 to 14,000 feet; and the southern zone consisting of eruptive chains which culminate in many notable volcanic peaks, some of which are more than 14,000 feet in height. These are known as the Cordilleras and they parallel the Pacific Ocean. There are three river systems emptying respectively into the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic and the Pacific. Some of the streams flowing into the Gulf of Mexico are navigable by steamboats of light draught. Of the Atlantic tributaries the principal rivers are the Sarstoon, the Motagua and the Dulce; the latter empties into the Gulf of Honduras. Navigation is possible on the Motagua for about 75 miles from the mouth. The rivers flowing into the Pacific include the Paz, the Suchiate, and the Patulul. These have their sources in the Andean Cordilleras or the neighboring highlands. There is also the Michatoya which is navigable for small boats to its confluence with the Maria Linda. Generally speaking, a few of the rivers on the southern coast might be made navigable for short distances with boats of very light draught. Guatemala has a series of inland lakes which include Izabal, Atitlan, Amatitlan, which are capable of steam navigation; Peten, Ayarza and Guija. The largest of these is Lake Izabal, which is 58 miles long by 12 miles in width and which has its outlet through the Dulce River into the Gulf of Honduras. The cities and municipal districts having a population of 10,000 and upwards are as follows: NAME. POPULATION. Guatemala City 100,000 Antigua 10,000 Quezaltenango 25,000 Totonicapan 33,000 Coban 23,000 Chiquimula 13,000 Jalapa 13,000 Escuintla 13,000 Salamá 13,000 Amatitlan 10,000 Zacapa 12,000 Flores 13,000 Jutiapa 14,000 Huehuetenango 10,000 Retalhuleu 10,000 Sololá 15,000 Mazatenango 10,000 San Marcos 10,000 Atitlan 10,000 THE HANDSOME CAPITAL CITY.