Tikal was the ceremonial hub of the Maya people, whose culture spread across much of modern day Mexico, Guatemala and Belize and peaked from 250 to 900. Art, astronomy and writing all flourished in the city, as did architecture. Many of the lavish palaces and large plazas remain, all linked by ramps and causeways, but most impressive are the five lofty pyramids, the highest of which peeks over the forest canopy at 65 metres, making it one of the ancient world's tallest buildings.
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