Uqul já is the original name of the Valley of Quetzaltenango
that means 'Throat of water.' Around 1400 the Quichés
conquered the territory and renamed this valley 'Xelajuj' which
means 'place beside ten mountains.'
Xela (pronounced 'shay-la') is the commonly used name for Quetzaltenango.
NATURAL WORLD
Prominent features are the Santa Maria volcano and the active
Santiaguito volcano.
