El SalvadorBy: Zachary Mahoney

Physical Geography of El Salvador• Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean,

between Guatemala and Honduras• Coordinates:

• 13 50 N, 88 55 W

• Land Mass: • 21,041 sq km

• Climate: • Rainy Season (May to October)• Dry Season (November to April)

• Elevation Extremes: • Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean 0m• Highest Point: Cerro El Pital 2,730m

• The smallest and most densely populated nation in Central American and only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea.

Physical Geography of El Salvador Cont…

• Terrain: • Mountains separate country into three distinct

regions--southern coastal belt, central valleys and plateaus, and northern mountains.

Rio Lempa River-Flows through the Central Platue-Cuts into the southern volcanoes and empties into the pacific ocean.-El Salvador's only navigable river.-Its 422 km long.

Southern Range of Mountains-The southern range of mountains are actually a discontinuous chain of more than 20 volcanoes.-It is clustered into 5 groups.-The soil is very rich and soft.-Most of El Salvador's coffee is planted on these slopes.

Physical Geography of El Salvador Cont…• FLORA:• Igneous trees in El Salvador include the mangrove, rubber,

dogwood, mahogany, cedar, and walnut.• Pine and oak are found in the northern mountainous region.

A typical mid-slope El Pital

Physical Geography of El Salvador Cont…• FAUNA:• Native fauna includes varieties of monkey's, jaguar,

coyote, tapir, and armadillo.• Several types of parrots and different species of migratory

birds.• Fish, crocodiles, alligators ,turtles, and iguanas all live in

the waters of El Salvador.• El Salvador is also home of the venomous boa constrictor.

Physical Geography of El Salvador Cont…• Natural Hazards• Known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes

destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity • Extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Volcán de Izalcowas one of the most frequently

active volcanoes in Central America until activity ceased in 1996

History of El Salvador• El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821

and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.

• Full Name: Republic of El Salvador• Capital City: San Salvador• Language: Spanish (official), Nahua• Currency: US Dollar• Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant• Population: 6,108,590• Ethnic Groups: Mainly Mestizo, White and Amerindian

Government in El Salvador• Type: Republic• Independence: September 15, 1821 (from

Spain)• Constitution: December 20, 1983• President: Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagen

(2009-2014)

• The president is both the chief of state and head of government

• Vice President: Salvador Sanchez Ceren • The president and vice president are elected on

the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term.

• Cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president

El Salvador Flag• Blue stripes represent the Pacific Ocean and

Caribbean Sea• White stripe symbolizes peace• State coat of arms on El Salvador’s flag is

based on the coat of arms of the former United Provinces of Central America• Inside the triangle represents equality and the

three branches of El Salvador’s government• The five volcanoes within the flag symbolizes the

five former members of the federation, flanked by the blue of the ocean and sea

• Triangle contains symbols of liberty, ideals of the people and peace, which are represented by a red cap, golden rays, rainbow, and the date that El Salvador gained independence from Spain

• Underneath the triangle lies El Salvador’s national motto which translates in English to ‘God, Union and Liberty’

• Fourteen clusters of leaves represent the 14 departments of states of El Salvador

Economy in El Salvador• Natural resources:

• hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land.

• Agriculture products: • Coffee, sugar, livestock,

corn, poultry, and sorghum

• Industries: • Food and beverage

processing, textiles, footwear and clothing, chemical products, petroleum products, electronics.

From: Central Intelligence Agency

Specialties of El Salvador• Food and drinks in El Salvador are a

blend of Spanish Influences.• A popular food in El Salvador is the

Pupasa. A pupasa is a thick, hand made corn tortilla that is stuffed with either cheese, meat, or squash.

• Rice, Beans, Raw marinated fish, shellfish, grilled clams, lobster and crabs are also very common.

• Salvadorans also love fresh fruit like bananas, pineapple, mango and papaya.

• Marquesote is a Salvadoran sweet bread.

Sources• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/el-salvador-guide/ • http://www.worldflags101.com/e/elsalvador-flag.aspx• http://mineralsciences.si.edu/captions/izalco.htm • http://mineralsciences.si.edu/captions/izalco.htm • http://www.geographylists.com/elsalvador_pital.html • http://

www.ticotimes.net/More-news/Top-Story/News/In-Costa-Rica-the-fight-to-save-the-hunted-jaguars_Friday-May-27-2011

• http://blogs.suntimes.com/sportsprose/2009/01/parrot_disrupts_soccer_game_by.html • http://spurgeonelsalvador.weebly.com/sources.html• http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/places/find/el-salvador/• http://www.123rf.com/photo_10084961_el-salvador-green-iguana.html • http://www.welt-atlas.de/map_of_el_salvador_8-631 • http://www.vicepresidencia.gob.sv/biografia.html • http://www.presidencia.gob.sv/index.php/presidencia/presidente-de-la-republica.html • http://latinaish.com/2011/02/22/marquesote-salvadoran-sweet-bread/ • http://virtuousandbeautiful.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/salvadoran-food-life-beyond-t

he-delicious-pupusa/

• http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/papaya-for-rejuvenation/• http://www.stepbystep.com/how-to-breed-boa-constrictors-34156/