Editing Cobán

{{Distinguish|Copán}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Cobán
| native_name        = {{nativename|kek|Kob'an}}
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Collage of Coban.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = '''Above, from left to right:''' Central Park of Cobán, Governing Palace, City Streets, Lachuá Lagoon, Santo Domingo de Guzmán Cathedral and the biodiversity in Cobán.
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| pushpin_map1       = Alta Verapaz
| pushpin_map_caption1 = Location in Alta Verapaz
<!-- Location ------------------>| subdivision_type   = Country
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| subdivision_type1  = [[Departments of Guatemala|Department]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Image:Bandera de Alta Verapaz.svg|25px]] [[Alta Verapaz Department|Alta Verapaz]]
| subdivision_type2  = 
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| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Koky Córdova
| leader_party       = [[Renewed Democratic Liberty|LDR]]
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| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = August 4, 1543
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| population_as_of   = 2018 census
| population_footnotes = <ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/guatemala/cities/ Citypopulation.de] Population of major cities in Guatemala</ref>
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| population_urban   = 212047
| timezone           = GMT -6
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| coordinates        = {{coord|15|29|0|N|90|22|0|W|type:city_region:GT|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 1320
| elevation_ft       = 
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Oceanic climate|Cwb/Cfb]]
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 16001
| website            = 
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}}
'''Cobán''' ({{langx|kek|Kob'an}}), fully '''Santo Domingo de Cobán''',{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}}{{sfnp|''EB''|1911}} is the [[Capital (political)|capital]] of the [[Departments of Guatemala|department]] of [[Alta Verapaz]] in central [[Guatemala]].  It also serves as the administrative center for the surrounding Cobán municipality.  It is located 219&nbsp;km from [[Guatemala City]].

As of the 2018 census, the population of the city of Cobán was 212,047 and that of the municipality was 212,421.<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/guatemala/admin/ Citypopulation.de] Population of departments and municipalities in Guatemala</ref> Cobán lies at an altitude of {{convert|1320|m|ft|-1|disp=or}} above [[sea level]] and covers a total area of 1,974&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. It is located at the center of a major [[coffee]]-growing area.

==Etymology==
The name "Cobán" comes from [[Q'eqchi' language|Q'eqchi']] (between clouds)

== History ==
{{See also|History of Guatemala}}

=== Order of Preachers in the Vera Paz ===
{{Main article|Bartolomé de Las Casas}}

[[File:Fray Bartolomé de las Casas.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Fray [[Bartolomé de las Casas]], [[Order of Preachers|O.P.]] who along friars Rodrigo de Landa, [[Pedro Angulo]] and Luis de Cáncer, O.P, started Vera paz Christian indoctrination in 1542.]]

Between 1530 and 1531, captain {{Interlanguage link|Alonso de Ávila|es}} on his way to [[San Cristóbal de las Casas|Ciudad Real]] accidentally discovered the lagoon and hill of {{Interlanguage link|Lacam-Tún|es|Reserva de la biosfera Lacan-Tun}}. People of that place had historically traded with all the people that the Spaniards had conquered, so, knowing what was coming, they sought refuge in the jungle. The Spaniards tried in vain to conquer the [[lacandon people|lacandones]]: from [[Nueva España]] Juan Enríquez de Guzman tried; from the [[Yucatán Peninsula]], [[Francisco de Montejo]] tried; [[Pedro de Alvarado]] attempted it from Guatemala along with captain Francisco Gil Zapata and, finally, Pedro Solórzano from Chiapas.<ref name=pons>{{cite book|last=Pons Sáez|first=Nuria|year=1997|title=La conquista del Lacandón|location=México|publisher=Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México|language=es|isbn=968-36-6150-5|page=XIX to XXIX}}</ref> That is when the Order of Preachers tried to convert the Tezulutlán "War Zone" into a peaceful region.

In the meantime, after a series of setbacks in [[Cuba|La Española]], the island Audiencia allowed [[Bartolomé de las Casas]] to accept Friar Tomás de Berlanga's invitation to go to [[Peru|Nueva Granada]] in 1534, where he had just been appointed as Bishop. Both sailed toward [[Panama]], to then continued to [[Lima]], but during the trip a storm tossed their ship to [[Nicaragua]], where Las Casas chose to remain in the Granada convent. in 1535, he proposed to the King and the [[Council of the Indies]] to start a peaceful colonization of the unexplored rural zones in the Guatemala region; however, in spite of Bernal Díaz de Luco and Mercado de Peñaloza intentions to help him, his suggestion was rejected.  In 1536 Nicaraguan governor [[Rodrigo de Contreras]] organized a military expedition, but Las Casas was able to postpone it by a couple of years after he notified queen [[Isabel de Portugal]], wife of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Carlos V]]. Given the authorities' hostility, Las Casas left Nicaragua and went to Guatemala.{{sfn|Anabitarte|1991|p=105}}

In November 1536, Las Casas settled in [[Ciudad Vieja|Santiago de Guatemala]], then the capital of Guatemala; a few months later, his friend, bishop Juan Garcés, invited him to move to Tlascala, but after a few weeks he came back to Guatemala. On May 2, 1537, governor [[Alonso de Maldonado]] granted him the Tezulutlán Capitulations - a written commitment ratified on July 6, 1539, by [[Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco|Antonio de Mendoza]], México Viceroy- in which everybody agreed that Tezulutlán natives, once conquered, would not be given as [[encomienda]] but would be King's subjects.{{sfn|Anabitarte|1991|p=107}} Las Casas, along with friars Rodrigo de Landa, [[Pedro Angulo]] and [[Luis de Cancer]], looked for four Christian natives and taught them Christian hymns where the Gospel's basic principles were explained. [[Luis de Cancer]] visited the [[cacique]] of [[Sacapulas]] and was able to perform the first baptisms among his people.  Later, Las Casas lead a retinue to bring girts to the cacique, who was so impressed that he decided to convert and become his people preacher{{clarify|date=December 2017}}. The cacique was baptized with the name of Don Juan and the natives granted permission to build a small church; however, Cobán, another cacique, burned the church. Don Juan, along sixty men, Las Casas and [[Pedro Angulo]], went to talk to Cobán's people and convinced them of their good intentions;{{sfn|Anabitarte|1991|p=109}} Don Juan even took the initiative to marry one of his daughters with cacique Cobán by the Catholic Church.

[[Image:Cobán Rabin Ajau Guatemala 1980.jpg|thumb|left|150px|"Rabin Ahau" festival 1980]]

In 1539 pope [[Paul III]] authorized the diocese of Ciudad Real;<ref group=lower-alpha>Ciudad Real diocesis included [[Chiapas]], [[Soconusco]], la Vera Paz (including the Lacandon jungle), [[Tabasco]] and the still non-conquered [[Yucatán Peninsula]].</ref> that year, Alonso de Maldonado—under pressure by Spanish settlers—began a military campaign in Tezulutlán [...] gave all the natives in [[encomienda]]s.  This flagrant violation of the Capitulations enraged Las Casas, who traveled to Spain to denounce it before king [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]].  On January 9, 1540, a royal document was issues which the {{Interlanguage link|Tezulutlán Capitulations|es|Capitulaciones de Tezulutlán}} were ratified and gave the region to the protection of the [[Order of Preachers]]. On October 17 of that year, [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[García de Loaysa y Mendoza|García de Loaysa]] -then president of the Indias Council- ordered the México Audiencia to comply with these laws. The Capitulations were officially published on January 21, 1541, in the church of [[Sevilla]].<ref>* {{cite book|last=Yáñez Delgadillo|first=Agustín|author-link=Agustín Yáñez|year=1992|title=Doctrina. Fray Bartolomé de las Casas|location=México|publisher=Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México|isbn=968-36-2016-7|page=168|language=es}}</ref>

Las Casas was appointed bishop of Chiapas in 1544, but he tried to apply the new ways in his diocese, they were flatly rejected by the [[encomendero]]s.<ref name=pons/> In 1545, Guatemala bishop [[Francisco Marroquín]] visited Tezulutlán and met with the preachers. Back in the city of [[Gracias a Dios Department|Gracias a Dios]], where the Audiencia de los Confines had its main office- met with Las Casas and with [[Nicaragua]] bishop [[Antonio de Valdivieso]]. There was a lot of tension between Marroquín and Las Casas in this meeting<ref group=lower-alpha>Las Casas accused Marroquín of having slave Indians and to have a [[repartimiento]] along with preaching "toxic doctrine"; Marroquín on the other hand, accused Las Casas of going beyond his jurisdiction.</ref>  The conflict moved on to [[Ciudad de México]] and finally everybody agreed to favor the freedom of the natives; however, this could not be accomplished for the Lacandon Jungle would not be conquered for another two century, becoming the rebel maya people favorite hideout.{{sfn|García Icazbalceta|1998| p=149-151}}

Las Casas and Angulo founded [[Rabinal]], and the city of Cobán was the center of the new Catholic doctrine. A few years later, the natives started settling following the Spanish model and several towns were settled, like Tactic. The name "War zone" was change for "Vera Paz" (true peace), name that became official in 1547.<ref name=pons/> Cobán received the title of an imperial city by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]] and in 1599 Cobán became bishop's see. It was briefly known during this period as '''Ciudad Imperial''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "Imperial City") in Charles's honor.{{sfnp|''EB''|1911}}

=== Independence and German settlers ===

As of 1850, Cobán population was estimated to be at 12000.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baily|first=John|title=Central America; Describing Each of the States of Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica|year=1850|publisher=Trelawney Saunders|location=London|page=87|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/7306/view/1/87/}}</ref> Ca. 1890, British archeologist [[Alfred Percival Maudslay]] and his wife moved to Guatemala, and visited Cobán.{{sfn|Maudslay|Maudslay|1899|p=105}} Around the time the Maudslays visited Verapaz, a German colony had settled in the area thanks to generous concessions granted by liberal presidents [[Manuel Lisandro Barillas Bercián]], [[José María Reyna Barrios]] and [[Manuel Estrada Cabrera]].{{sfn|Martínez Peláez|1988|p=}} The Germans had a very united and solid community and had several activities in the German Club (Deutsche Verein), in Cobán, which they had founded in 1888.  Their main commercial activity was coffee plantations. Maudslay described the Germans like this: "There is a larger proportion of foreigners in Coban than in any other town in the Republic: they are almost exclusively Germans engaged in coffee-planting, and some few of them in cattle-ranching and other industries; although complaints of isolation and of housekeeping and labour troubles are not unheard of amongst them, they seemed to me to be fortunate from a business point of view in the high reputation that the Vera Paz coffee holds in the market, and the very considerable commercial importance which their industry and foresight has brought to the district; and, from a personal point of view, in the enjoyment of a delicious climate in which their rosy-cheeked children can be reared in health and strength, and in all the comforts which pertain to a life half European and half tropical. Hotels or fondas appear to be scarce; but the hospitality of the foreign residents is proverbial."{{sfn|Maudslay|Maudslay|1899|p=99}}

{{multiple image
| align     = center
| direction = horizontal
| width     = 
|title=Cobán in the 1890s
|caption=During the presidency of general [[José María Reina Barrios]], British anthropologist [[Alfred Percival Maudslay]] and his wife visited Cobán and published these photographs in their book ''A Glimpse at Guatemala''.{{sfn|Maudslay|Maudslay|1899|p=151-160}}
|image1=A glimpse of Guatemala 151-Iglesia de Coban 1898.png|caption1=Central park church|width1=250
|image2=A glimpse of Guatemala 155-People from Coban 1898.png|caption2=Street market|width2=230
|image3=A glimpse of Guatemala 160-Calvario de Coban.png|caption3=Calvary church|width3=230
}}

The city was developed by [[Germans|German]] coffee growers towards the end of the 19th century and was operated as a largely independent dominion until [[World War II|WWII]].<ref name=deutsch/> In 1888 a German club was founded<ref name=rise>{{cite web|url=http://www.contextxxi.at/context/content/view/391/95/|website=Risse im Context XXI; Magazin zur Alpenbergradigung|language=de|date=2002|location=Germany|title=Der Auslandsdeutsche kann nichts anderes sein als Nationalsozialist!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210040215/http://www.contextxxi.at/context/content/view/391/95/|archive-date=10 February 2007}}</ref> and in 1935 a German school opened its doors in Cobán. Until 1930, about 2000 Germans populated the city.<ref name=rise/> In 1941, all Germans were expelled by the [[Guatemala|Guatemalan government]], led at the time by [[Jorge Ubico]] because of pressure from the [[United States]];<ref name=bucheli8>{{cite journal |last=Bucheli |first=Marcelo| year=2008| title=Multinational Corporations, Totalitarian Regimes, and Economic Nationalism: United Fruit Company in Central America, 1899-1975| journal=Business History| volume=50| issue=4| pages=433–454| doi =10.1080/00076790802106315|s2cid=153433143}}</ref> it has also been suggested Ubico's motivation was to seize control of the vast amounts of land Germans owned in the area.<ref name=bucheli8/> Many ended up in internment camps in [[Texas]] and were later traded for American POW's held in Germany. A sizable resident German population persists though most having been completely assimilated into the Guatemalan culture through intermarriage. Multiple German architectonic elements can still be appreciated throughout Cobán.

The Germans also set up [[Rail transport in Guatemala|Ferrocarril Verapaz]], a railway which connected Cobán with [[Lake Izabal]], operated from 1895 until 1963 and was a symbol for the wealth in this coffee-growing region those days.<ref name=deutsch>{{cite news|url=http://servicios.prensalibre.com/pl/domingo/archivo/revistad/2005/julio05/240705/dfondo.shtml |title=Deutschland en la Verapaz|newspaper=Revista D|location=Guatemala|publisher=Prensa Libre|date=5 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626133655/http://servicios.prensalibre.com/pl/domingo/archivo/revistad/2005/julio05/240705/dfondo.shtml|archive-date=26 June 2015}}</ref>

===Franja Transversal del Norte===
{{Main article|Franja Transversal del Norte}}

{{Location map | Guatemala
|AlternativeMap=Franja transversal guate relief.jpg
| width      = 200
| float      = right
| caption    = Location of Cobán in [[Franja Transversal del Norte]]
| label      = Cobán
| label_size = 80
| position   = bottom
| background = white
| mark       = Orange_pog.svg
| marksize   = 9 <!--size in pixels-->
| lat_deg    = 
| lon_deg    = 
}}

The Northern Transverse Strip was officially created during the government of General Carlos Arana Osorio in 1970, by Legislative Decree 60–70, for agricultural development.<ref name=wikiguate>{{cite web|url=http://wikiguate.com.gt/wiki/Franja_Transversal_del_Norte|website=Wikiguate|title=Franja Transversal del Norte|access-date=30 October 2014|location=Guatemala|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704175847/http://wikiguate.com.gt/wiki/Franja_Transversal_del_Norte#|archive-date=2014-07-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> The decree literally said: "It is of public interest and national emergency, the establishment of Agrarian Development Zones in the area included within the municipalities: San Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista, [[Nentón]], Jacaltenango, [[San Mateo Ixtatán]], and Santa Cruz Barillas in [[Huehuetenango (department)|Huehuetenango]]; [[Chajul]] and San Miguel [[Uspantán]] in Quiché; Cobán, [[Chisec]], [[San Pedro Carchá]], [[Lanquín]], [[Senahú]], [[Cahabón]] and Chahal, in Alta Verapaz and the entire department of Izabal."{{sfn|Solano|2012|p=15}}

===21st century: African oil palm===
{{See also|Elaeis guineensis}}

[[File:Guatemalapalma2014.JPG|200px|thumb|African oil palm plantation areas in Guatemala as of 2014.{{sfn|Solano|2015|p=6}}]]

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 [[Franja Transversal del Norte|Northern Transversal Strip]] of Guatemala.<ref name=enfoque/> 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, Guatemala|Chahal]] in Alta Verapaz Department; [[El Estor]] and [[Livingston, Guatemala|Livingston]], [[Izabal Department]]; and [[San Luis, Petén|San Luis]], [[Petén Department|Petén]], where Naturaceites operates.<ref name=enfoque>{{harvnb|Solano|2015|p=1}}</ref>

==Climate==
Cobán has a [[subtropics|subtropical climate]] highland ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb'').

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | metric first = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Cobán (1991–2020)
 | Jan record high C = 34.4
 | Feb record high C = 34.7
 | Mar record high C = 35.4
 | Apr record high C = 36.0
 | May record high C = 36.0
 | Jun record high C = 35.0
 | Jul record high C = 32.6
 | Aug record high C = 32.0
 | Sep record high C = 31.0
 | Oct record high C = 34.8
 | Nov record high C = 30.9
 | Dec record high C = 30.8
 | year record high C = 
 | Jan high C = 22.3
 | Feb high C = 23.9
 | Mar high C = 25.7
 | Apr high C = 27.8
 | May high C = 27.8
 | Jun high C = 27.5
 | Jul high C = 26.5
 | Aug high C = 26.9
 | Sep high C = 27.0
 | Oct high C = 24.9
 | Nov high C = 22.7
 | Dec high C = 22.4
 | year high C = 25.4
 | Jan mean C = 16.9
 | Feb mean C = 17.8
 | Mar mean C = 19.0
 | Apr mean C = 20.8
 | May mean C = 21.2
 | Jun mean C = 21.0
 | Jul mean C = 20.5
 | Aug mean C = 20.4
 | Sep mean C = 20.5
 | Oct mean C = 19.7
 | Nov mean C = 17.9
 | Dec mean C = 17.3
 | year mean C = 19.4
 | Jan low C = 10.8
 | Feb low C = 11.0
 | Mar low C = 11.3
 | Apr low C = 12.6
 | May low C = 13.8
 | Jun low C = 14.6
 | Jul low C = 14.1
 | Aug low C = 14.0
 | Sep low C = 14.4
 | Oct low C = 13.8
 | Nov low C = 12.5
 | Dec low C = 11.5
 | year low C = 12.9
 | Jan record low C = 2.6
 | Feb record low C = 3.8
 | Mar record low C = 4.4
 | Apr record low C = 3.1
 | May record low C = 4.9
 | Jun record low C = 6.8
 | Jul record low C = 8.0
 | Aug record low C = 8.6
 | Sep record low C = 6.3
 | Oct record low C = 6.4
 | Nov record low C = 2.2
 | Dec record low C = 3.0
 | year record low C = 2.2
 | precipitation colour = green
 | Jan precipitation mm = 39.4
 | Feb precipitation mm = 40.3
 | Mar precipitation mm = 42.3
 | Apr precipitation mm = 70.6
 | May precipitation mm = 185.4
 | Jun precipitation mm = 265.0
 | Jul precipitation mm = 219.1
 | Aug precipitation mm = 238.7
 | Sep precipitation mm = 289.1
 | Oct precipitation mm = 300.3
 | Nov precipitation mm = 232.6
 | Dec precipitation mm = 69.8
 | year precipitation mm = 
 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
 | Jan precipitation days = 12.6
 | Feb precipitation days = 6.1
 | Mar precipitation days = 8.6
 | Apr precipitation days = 8.1
 | May precipitation days = 14.4
 | Jun precipitation days = 19.8
 | Jul precipitation days = 20.3
 | Aug precipitation days = 19.6
 | Sep precipitation days = 21.5
 | Oct precipitation days = 19.9
 | Nov precipitation days = 15.7
 | Dec precipitation days = 12.8
 | year precipitation days = 182.4
 | source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-4-WMO-Normals-9120/Guatemala/CSV/Coban_78631.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Cobán
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = February 1, 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Culture ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
Each year at the end of July,  a festival of Guatemala's native peoples is held here, ''La Fiesta Nacional Indígena de Guatemala'' (Festival Folklórico). The festivities include a [[beauty contest]] for Guatemala's [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous]] women, the winner of which is crowned with the title "Rabin Ahau", which means "the Daughter of the King" in [[Q'eqchi' language|Q'eqchi']]. The dominant ethnicity here is [[Q'eqchi' people|Q'eqchi']] Mayan and the language of [[Q'eqchi' language|Q'eqchi']] is widely spoken in town, especially in and around the markets where farmers from the surrounding hills sell their products. The departmental fair is held in Cobán and begins on the last Sunday in July and continues for a week. Every year, the international half-[[marathon]] of Cobán is held during the month of May; 4,000 runners gather in Cobán to take part of the event that has become the landmark event for the region. The annual religious festival ''(fiesta titular)'' is on August 4 and dedicated to [[Santo Domingo de Guzman]].

==Sports==
[[Cobán Imperial]] Football Club is one of the traditional clubs of Guatemala and became [[Liga Nacional de Guatemala|Guatemala League]] champions for the first time in 2004. The club plays in the Guatemalan national league. They play their home games in the [[Estadio Verapaz]].
Cobán is also known for their basketball history. The youth leagues are the best in the country.

==Tourism==
{{See also|Cobán Airport}}
[[File:GAG 1841.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Central Park in Cobán.]]
Cobán is surrounded by mountains laden with [[orchids]]. The rare [[Lycaste skinneri|Monja blanca]] orchid is the departmental symbol. [[Nature reserves]] in or near Cobán include [[Las Victorias National Park]], [[San José la Colonia National Park]], [[Laguna Lachuá National Park]], and ''Biotopo Mario Dary Rivera''. There can be found multiple caves, waterfalls and forests which are home to the rare [[Quetzal]]. Thus, Cobán has become a popular spot for eco-tourism.

Additional popular tourist spots in the city of Cobán include the [[El Calvario Church]], the Dieseldorff coffee plantation, [http://www.plazamagdalena.com Plaza Magdalena] Shopping Center and Coban's central plaza.

==Geographic location==

{{Geographic location
 | Center= Cobán
 | Northwest= [[Ixcán]], [[Quiché Department|El Quiché]] municipality
 | East= [[Chisec]], [[San Pedro Carchá]] and [[San Juan Chamelco]] [[Alta Verapaz Department|Alta Verapaz]] municipalities<ref name=segeplan>{{cite web|title=Municipios de Alta Verapaz, Guatemala|url=http://www.segeplan.gob.gt/2.0/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=category&id=2:alta-verapaz&Itemid=333|location=Guatemala|website=Secretaría General de Planificación y Programación de la Presidencia de la República|access-date=30 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630153430/http://www.segeplan.gob.gt/2.0/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=category&id=2%3Aalta-verapaz&Itemid=333|archive-date=30 June 2015|language=es|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | South= [[San Cristóbal Verapaz]], [[Santa Cruz Verapaz]] and [[Tactic (municipality)|Tactic]], Alta Verapaz municipalities<ref name=segeplan/>
 | West= [[Uspantán]], El Quiché municipality
}}

States<ref name="sci-chapin">[http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/Americas/Guatemala List of sister cities in Guatemala] from Sister Cities International {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829163831/http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/Americas/Guatemala# |date=2008-08-29 }}</ref>

== See also ==
*{{Portal-inline|Guatemala}}
*{{Portal-inline|Geography}}
* [[Alta Verapaz]]
* [[Franja Transversal del Norte]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|2}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|2}}
* {{cite book|last=Anabitarte|first=Héctor|year=1991|title=Grandes Personajes. Bartolomé de las Casas|publisher=Labor|edition=Colaborativa del 75 Aniversario|language=es|isbn=84-335-7100-1}}
* {{cite EB9 |wstitle = Cobán |volume= 6 |page= 83 |ref={{harvid|''EB''|1878}} }}
* {{cite book
 |last         = Bucheli
 |first        = Marcelo
 |year         = 2006
 |contribution = The United Fruit Company in Latin America: Business Strategies in a Changing Environment
 |editor       = Jones, Geoffrey
 |editor2      = Wadhwani, R. Daniel
 |title        = Entrepreneurship and Global Capitalism
 |location     = Cheltenham, Inglaterra
 |publisher    = Edward Elgar
 |volume       = 2
 |pages        = 342–383
 |url          = http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/Bookentry_contents.lasso?id=3844
 |access-date  = 2015-01-15
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071013033204/http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/Bookentry_contents.lasso?id=3844#
 |archive-date = 2007-10-13
 |url-status     = dead
}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Cobán |volume= 6 | pages = 605&ndash;606 |ref={{harvid|''EB''|1911}} }}
* {{cite journal|url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/18/2674.pdf|author=Corte internacional de La Haya|title=Nottebohm case (second phase). Judgement of April 6th, 1955|year=1955|journal=I.C.J. Reports|page=4|language=en, fr|access-date=2015-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210083112/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/18/2674.pdf#|archive-date=2012-02-10|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book|last=García Icazbalceta|first=Joaquín|author-link=Joaquín García Icazbalceta|year=1998|title=Biografías (Francisco Marroquín)|location=México|publisher=Porrúa|isbn=970-07-1217-6|language=es}}
* {{cite book|language=es|last=Martínez Peláez|first=Severo|author-link=Severo Martínez Peláez|title=Racismo y análisis histórico de la definición del indio guatemalteco|location=Guatemala|publisher=Universitaria|year=1988}}
* {{cite book|last1=Maudslay|first1=Alfred Percival|author-link=Alfred Percival Maudslay|title=A glimpse at Guatemala, and some notes on the ancient monuments of Central America|last2=Maudslay|first2=Anne Cary|location=London (UK)|publisher=John Murray|year=1899|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Glimpse_at_Guatemala.pdf}}
* {{cite book|url=http://www.albedrio.org/htm/documentos/EstudioFranjaTransversalNorteCEDFOG.pdf|last=Solano|first=Luis|title=Contextualización histórica de la Franja Transversal del Norte (FTN)|publisher=Centro de Estudios y Documentación de la Frontera Occidental de Guatemala, CEDFOG| date=February 2012 |access-date=31 October 2014|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113172058/http://www.albedrio.org/htm/documentos/EstudioFranjaTransversalNorteCEDFOG.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2014}}
* {{cite journal|last=Solano|first=Luis|url=http://www.albedrio.org/htm/otrosdocs/comunicados/EnfoqueNo.36-PalmaafricanaFTN-2015.pdf |title=Palma Africana|journal=Revista Enfoque|issue=36|date=15 July 2015|access-date=19 July 2015|location=Guatemala|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720045208/http://www.albedrio.org/htm/otrosdocs/comunicados/EnfoqueNo.36-PalmaafricanaFTN-2015.pdf|language=es|archive-date=20 July 2015}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Cobán}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Cobán}}

{{Alta Verapaz Department}}{{Franja Transversal del Norte (Guatemala)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coban}}
[[Category:Cobán| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the Alta Verapaz Department]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1543]]
[[Category:1543 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]