Despite hundreds of years since its streets fell quiet, the Mayan city of Tikal still stands, a testament to the ingenuity of the Maya people. Hundreds of thousands of tourists make the trek to visit Tikal every year to marvel at the pyramids, temples, and monuments that left little more than clues for archeologists to decipher. What in the World is Tikal? tells the story of this ancient city once populated by the fascinating Maya people and now abandoned in the jungle of Tikal National Park in Guatemala. Topics covered will range from its re-discovery and excavation and its current use as inspiration and settings for many popular films to the physical characteristics of Tikal and the park in which it's situated. Mayan life will be deeply examined with specific chapters dedicated to the life and culture of Tikal and the story of its many rulers, the history of the Mayans and their enemies, and the impact Mayan culture has had on our modern world. What in the World is Tikal? is an in-depth exploration that strives to educate the general reader on the history and influence of the Mayan city of Tikal.