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Santa Ana Volcano (Ilamatepec), El Salvador
Aerial view of the nested summit calderas with the crater lake of Santa Ana Volcano (Ilamatepec) in Cerro Verde National Park in El Salvador. Ilamatepec is the highest volcano in the country at 2,381 m.
Image: Ramon
 
Flag of El Salvador
Flag of El Salvador
Where in Central America is El Salvador?
Location map of El Salvador
A virtual guide to El Salvador the "Land of the volcanoes", a tropical, mountainous country in the center of Central America, bordering the Pacific Ocean in south, Guatemala in west and Honduras in north, and it shares maritime borders with Nicaragua. It is the only Central American country without a Caribbean coastline.

With an area of 21,000 km² it is the smallest country in Central America, about the size of Slovenia or slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Massachusetts. El Salvador's landscape offers three general regions, a narrow Pacific coastal belt, a central plateau, which is almost surrounded by active volcanoes, and the northern lowlands, formed by the wide Lempa River Valley. Its highest point is Cerro El Pital with 2,730 m.

El Salvador's population of 6.4 million people consists of 90% mestizo, 9% white, and just 1% Amerindian. Capital and largest city is San Salvador. Spoken languages are Spanish (official), and native languages such as Nahuan and Maya.



Republic of El Salvador | República de El Salvador


Country Profile



Background:
El Salvador is the smallest Central American country it achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839.

A 12-year civil war, which cost the lives of some 75 000 people, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a United Nations-brokered peace agreement that provided for military and political reforms.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)
 
 

Official Name:
República de El Salvador
short form: El Salvador
int'l long form: Republic of El Salvador
int'l short form: El Salvador

ISO Country Code: sv, slv

Time:
Time Zone:
Local Time = UTC -6h
Actual Time: Sun-Mar-17  13:21

Country Calling Code: +503

Capital City: San Salvador (pop. 600 000).

Other Cities:
Santa Ana (pop. 237 000), San Miguel (pop. 222,000), Ahuachapán (pop. 100 000), Soyapango (pop. 222,096), La Union.

Government:
Type: Republic.
Independence: on 15 September 1821 (from Spain). Constitution: 20 December 1983.

Geography:
Location: Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean in the south, between Guatemala and Honduras.
Area: 21,041 km² (8,123 sq. mi.).
Terrain: Mountains separate country into three distinct regions--southern coastal belt, central valleys and plateaus, and northern mountains.

Climate: Semitropical, tropical on coast; temperate in uplands, distinct wet and dry seasons.

People:
Nationality: Salvadoran(s).
Population: 6.4 million (2015)
Ethnic Groups: mixed Indian and Spanish 90%, indigenous 1%, Caucasian 9%.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestants
Languages: Spanish.
Literacy: 75-80%

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.

Exports - commodities: offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures

Exports - partners: USA 47.1%, Honduras 13.9%, Guatemala 13.6%, Nicaragua 6.6%, Costa Rica 4.5% (2015)

Imports - commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity

Imports - partners: USA 39.4%, Guatemala 9.6%, China 8.1%, Mexico 7.4%, Honduras 5.7% (2015)

Currency: Salvador Colon (SVC) and US Dollar (USD)

National Palace in San Salvador, capital city of El Salvador
National Palace in the historic center of San Salvador, El Salvador. The building houses the General Archive of the Nation.
Image: David Stanley

Political system
El Salvador is a unitary republic with a central government. Chief of State and head of government is the president, elected for a single term of five years, he has the executive power. Legislative branch is the unicameral assembly. The supreme court of the nation is the highest court for appeal.

Official Sites of El Salvador

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

El Salvador
Presidencia de la República de El Salvador - El Salvador's Presidency (in Spanish).


Asamblea Legislativa de la República de El Salvador
El Salvador's Legislative Assembly.


Ministerio de Gobernacion
Ministry of the Interior - e-government site with information and services on various topics related to El Salvador's government administration (in Spanish).


Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador.

Diplomatic Missions
Foreign Diplomatic Missions in El Salvador
List of Foreign Embassies and Missions accredited in El Salvador.
Salvadoran Embassies and Missions Abroad
List of Salvadoran Diplomatic Missions Abroad.
Embajada de El Salvador
El Salvador's Embassy in the US, Washington D.C.



Maps

profile Map of El Salvador
General Map of El Salvador with department borders.
Google Earth Google Earth El Salvador
Searchable map and satellite view of El Salvador.
Google Earth Google Earth San Salvador
Searchable map and satellite view El Salvador's capital city.

Map of Central America and the Caribbean
Reference Map of Central America and the Caribbean. 

News

According to BBC the press freedom in El Salvador is guaranteed under the constitution, and the media freely and routinely criticise the government and report on opposition activities.

News papers
El Diario de Hoy
El Salvador News paper (in Spanish)
El Faro
Weekly with local and Latin American news (in Spanish)
Diario Co Latino
El Salvador News (Spanish)
Diario El Mundo
El Salvador News (in Spanish).
La Prensa Gráfica
El Salvador News paper (in Spanish)

TV
Agape TV (Canal 8)
Canal 12
Canal Cuatro (Canal 4)
Telecorporación Salvadoreña
A group of local television stations formed by channels 2, 4, 6, and VTV.

Radio
Corporación YSKL
Group of Salvadoran radio stations.
 

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Arts & Culture


Cuscatlán
Cuscatlán, the "Land of Precious Things" with Literature and Art of El Salvador. (in Spanish)

League of Salvadoran Artists and Writers - UNARTES
Association of writers and other Salvadoran artists.
 
San Salvador at Night, El Salvador
San Salvador at Night
© Ministerio de Turismo El Salvador

Business & Economy

Agriculture is the foundation of El Salvador's economy, providing about two-thirds of the nation's exports and employing one-third of its labor force. Coffee is El Salvador's major crop, accounting for 30% of total agricultural output.

Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador
The Central Bank of El Salvador controls the currency rate and regulates certain economic activities within the country.
Bolsa de Valores de El Salvador
El Salvador Stock Exchange.
Camara de Comercio e Industria de El Salvador
Chamber of Commerce and Industry El Salvador.

Fundación Salvadoreña para Investigaciones del Café
All about Salvadoran coffee.

__ Transportation
Avianca
TACA was the flag airline of El Salvador. In 2013 Taca Airlines merged with the Colombian flag carrier Avianca. Avianca comprises a group of seven Latin American airlines, with hubs in Bogotá, Colombia, Lima, Peru, and at Comalapa International Airport in San Salvador.
 
 
Ilopango crater lake near San Salvador
Lago Ilopango, the second largest lake in the country is a crater lake in a caldera just east of San Salvador, capital city of El Salvador.
Image: Ll1324


Travel and Tour Consumer Information


Destination El Salvador - Country Guides


El Salvador Tourism
The Official Visitor Guide to El Salvador.

Ministerio de Turismo de El Salvador
Ministry of tourism of El Salvador (in Spanish).


San Salvador
San Salvador
Map and information about El Salvador's capital city.
San Salvador
Site of the city government of San Salvador (in Spanish).


UNESCO World Heritage Sites of El Salvador

World Heritage Site Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site
Joya de Cerén was a pre-Hispanic farming community that was buried under an eruption of the Laguna Caldera volcano about AD 600.

Ruins of Tazumal Maya complex in Chalchuapa, Santa Ana Department of El Salvador
Tazumal ruins of a pre-Columbian Maya complex located in Chalchuapa, Santa Ana Department.
Image: Cam Ventoza
 



Education


Universidad Centroamericana "José Simeón Cañas"
Official website of the San Salvador located private university.
Universidad de El Salvador (UES)
The official site of the university, the oldest and one of the most prominent educational institutions in El Salvador. It serves as the national university of the country (in Spanish).
Universidad Francisco Gavidia
The official university site (in Spanish).
Universidad Tecnologica de El Salvador
Official site with university, library and campus information (in Spanish).
 
 

Environment & Nature


Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales - MARN
El Salvador's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.


Salvadoran Research Program on Development and Environment (PRISMA)
Non-governmental organization seeks to influence local actions and national and regional initiatives, by promoting and developing territorial and resource management approaches that can strengthen rural livelihoods while furthering the sustainable management of natural resources.
 
Volcano Izalco, El Salvador
Volcano Izalco
© Ministerio de Turismo El Salvador

History


History of El Salvador
A Country Study, the Library of Congress.

History of El Salvador
Wikipedia article about the history of El Salvador.

Oscar Romero
Wikipedia article about the Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, a well-known critic of violence and injustice in El Salvador, he was assassinated on 24 March 1980.
 
Tazumal Chalchuapa Santaana, El Salvador
Maya ruin Tazumal near Chalchuapa, Santa Ana
© Ministerio de Turismo El Salvador

Search

Buscaniguas
Motor de Búsqueda Salvadoreño (in Spanish).
Listasal
Directorio y Listado de Sitios Web de El Salvador - Index of El Salvador websites (in Spanish).

Sources and sdditional Information on El Salvador


Amnesty International: El Salvador

BBC Country Profile: El Salvador

FAO: El Salvador

GlobalEDGE: El Salvador

The Heritage Foundation: El Salvador

Human Rights Watch: El Salvador

OEC: El Salvador

Wikipedia: El Salvador

The World Factbook: El Salvador
 
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Other Countries of Middle and Central America:
Belize | Costa Rica | Guatemala | Honduras | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama

Major Cities in Middle and Central America:
Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, Panama City, San José, San Salvador, Tegucigalpa

Countries in South America:
Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | French Guiana
Guyana | Paraguay | Peru | Uruguay | Suriname | Venezuela
 
 
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