Sayaxché

Sayaxché
Municipality of Guatemala
Ferry across Río de la Pasión in Sayaxché
Sayaxché
Coordinates: 16°31′N 90°11′W / 16.517°N 90.183°W / 16.517; -90.183Coordinates: 16°31′N 90°11′W / 16.517°N 90.183°W / 16.517; -90.183
Country	Guatemala
Department	El Petén
Found	1874
Area
• Total	3,904 km2 (1,507 sq mi)
Elevation	125 m (410 ft)
Population (2012)
• Total	114,781
Climate	Am
Website	www.inforpressca.com/sayaxche/

Sayaxché (Spanish pronunciation: [saʝaʃˈtʃe]) is a municipality in the El Petén department of Guatemala, on the Río La Pasión river. It covers an area of 3,904 km², and had 55,578 inhabitants at the 2002 Census; the latest official estimate (as at mid-2012) was 114,781 inhabitants.

The city was founded in 1874 to provide accommodation for forest workers of Jamet Sastré logging company. It obtained municipal status in 1929.

El Rosario National Park is located just east of the town. The archaeological sites of Ceibal and Dos Pilas are located within the municipal boundaries.

There is a large demand within Guatemala and some of its neighbors for edible oils and fats, which would explain how the African oil palm became so prevalent in the country in detriment of other oils, and which has allowed new companies associated to large capitals in a new investment phase that can be found particularly in some territories that form the Northern Transversal Strip of Guatemala. The investors are trying to turn Guatemala into one of the main palm oil exporters, in spite of the decline on its international price. The most active region is found in Chisec and Cobán, in Alta Verapaz Department; Ixcán in Quiché Department, and Sayaxché, Petén Department, where Palmas del Ixcán, S.A. (PALIX) is located, both with its own plantation and those of subcontractors. Another active region is that of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas and Chahal in Alta Verapaz Department; El Estor and Livingston, Izabal Department; and San Luis, Petén, where Naturaceites operates.