El Salvador

1. El Salvador By: Zachary Mahoney

2. 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.

3. Physical Geography of El Salvador Cont… • Terrain: • Mountains separate country into three distinct regions--southern coastal belt, central valleys and plateaus, and northern mountains. 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. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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 Izalco was one of the most frequently active volcanoes in Central America until activity ceased in 1996

7. 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

8. Government in El Salvador • Type: Republic • Independence: September 15, 1821 (from Spain) • Constitution: December 20, 1983 • President: Carlos Mauricio FunesCartagen(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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

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