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America/Chicago |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC-6 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC-5 |
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America/Guatemala |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC-6 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Ruby is a small incorporated town in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States, located about 60 miles northeast of the state capital of Baton Rouge and adjacent to the Mississippi border, and characterized by a quiet rural atmosphere and a deep community culture. Sparsely populated, with fewer than 500 people according to the most recent census, the town dates back to the late 1800s and, with its early rise to an agricultural economy (e.g., cotton and soybean farming), still retains the rustic look of a traditional Southern town. The town's landmarks include a century-old community church and several Victorian-style homes, and the annual fall "Ruby Family Day," which blends elements of local Cajun and Creole culture, has become a shared memory for the surrounding residents. Despite its small size, Ruby epitomizes the serenity of the American countryside with its simple folk and distinctive Louisiana southern flavor.
Located in the department of Petén in the north of Guatemala, Tikal was one of the most powerful city-states of the Classic period of the Mayan civilization (c. 200-900 AD). Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, this archaeological site deep in the rainforest is known for its towering pyramidal temples and rich biodiversity.
The core of the site covers an area of approximately 16 square kilometers and boasts more than 3,000 structures, including six step pyramids that rise to a height of 70 meters. One of these, Temple IV, is the tallest structure in the pre-Columbian Americas and overlooks the entire rainforest. Hieroglyphics on stone monuments and altars record the rise and fall of Tikal in wars with neighboring countries, and its population may have been as large as 100,000 in its heyday.
Tikal National Park combines archaeology and ecological preservation, and visitors can watch the sun rise over the pyramids in the morning while listening to howler monkeys. The park is home to more than 200 species of animals, including jaguars and toucans, and rainforest trails connect plazas, palaces and ball fields, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the Mayan cosmology and daily life.