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In the registration phase at UNESCO
The area located in Peten, with a range of 2125 square kilometers, is considered the capital of the Mayan world. The archaeological site of El Mirador, located in the northern region of the province of Peten , will be declared Cultural and Natural World Heritage for Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
According to Eduardo Gonzales, Secretary of Executive Planning for the government, the process that started in 2004, is now in the registration phase. This process started when Nucia Sanz, specialist for the Latin American project, visited the area to carry out a study about the site's features. El Mirador, considered the capital of the Mayan world, will be declared Natural and Cultural World Heritage Site due to its archaeological and natural wealth. The area comprises of 2,125 square kilometers.
There are 32 archaeological sites within El Mirador, with buildings from the Classic Period such as Nakbe, Tintal, Wakna, and Xuhnal. Smaller sites like La Florida , Maaxte, Zacatal and Chan Kan , also dating from the Classic Period, can also be found in this area. Gonzales adds "it is the government's responsibility to preserve this region, as it represents the heart of the Mayan world in Guatemala ."
Siglo Veintiuno contacted the UNESCO offices by telephone to find out more about the process. No one from this organization returned the calls. In Guatemala , this organization has recognized Antigua Guatemala and Tikal National Park as World Heritage Sites.
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