Momostenango is a municipality in the Totonicapán department of Guatemala. The municipality is situated in the North-West of Totonicapán, in the Western highlands of Guatemala.
Population
Momostenango's population is predominantly of Maya Kʼicheʼ descent. 70% of the population lives in rural areas and most are small farmers growing maize, beans for their own consumption, and wheat.
The municipality is subdivided in the town of Momostenango, 14 villages and 169 smaller communities called caseríos or parajes.[1]
The municipality's territory of 305 km2 has a mountainous topography with elevations ranging from 1800 m in the North-East, to 3300 m (Cerro Tená) to the West. The mountains on its western border are a watershed for the Salinas and Samalá river basins. Most of the 49 waterflows are tributaries of the Chixoy River in the Salinas river basin.[2]
Like most of the central highlands, the climate is relatively cold, and is marked by a rainy season starting in mid-May, and a dry season starting in October. Yearly precipitation is around 1200 mm, except for the much dryer northern part of the municipality which receives 400–800 mm of rainfall.
Communities
The Municipality of Momostenango is divided into the following principal administrative units.[3]
Towns (Pueblos)
Momostenango (municipal seat)
Wards (Barrios): Patizité, Santa Ana, Santa Catarina, Santa Isabel
