El Salvador is a Central American country located in the Central American isthmus. This is the only Central American nation not washed by the Caribbean Sea, despite having a considerable coastline portion facing the Pacific Ocean. It abuts Honduras to the north, with approximately 343 kilometers running from the Trifinio de Montecristo to the mouth of Goascoran River. It borders with Guatemala to the west along 203 kilometers from the Paz River to the mount at the Trifinio de Montecristo. The southern border is dominated by the Pacific Ocean from the mouth of the Paz River down to the Goascoran River for approximately 321 kilometers, while the southeastern frontier is marked by the Gulf of Fonseca, a natural border with Nicaragua.According to sea level, there are three climatic zones: hot lands from 0 to 600 meters high above sea level; mild from 600 to 1,200 meters high, and cool lands or tropical height climate ranging from 1,200 to 2,700 meters high.From a weather standpoint, there are two seasons and a couple of transitions: a drought season from November to April; a rainy season from May to October, plus two 30-day transition periods between both seasons. Most of the Salvadoran territory is characterized by a rugged landscape due to volcanic and tectonic activity occurred in the Tertiary Age. Morphologically speaking, the country is divided in the following regions: coastal plain, central tableland, interior mountain range, interior basin, central valley and borderline mountain range. There are more than extinct volcanoes with small and big craters, some of them with undercurrent flows of limy lava. Nonetheless, three of these aforesaid volcanoes report a low-profile activity and that ranks them as resting volcanoes. The Izalco Volcano was very much active with on-and-off eruptions every half an hour from 1770 to 1957.There are mountains with a narrow strip running along the coast and a central plateau.There’re likewise erosion and deforestation problems in El Salvador, let alone water pollution and land contamination as a result of huge deposits of trash and waste disposals.The country counts on such natural resources as hydroelectric and geothermal power generation, as well as oil drilling.
El Salvador is divided in 14 departments: San Salvador (capital), Ahuachapan, Cabañas, Cuscatlaan, Chalatenango, La Libertad, Morazan, La Paz, San Miguel, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, La Union and Usulutan, and roughly 260 municipalities.
It abuts Honduras to the north, with approximately 343 kilometers running from the Trifinio de Montecristo to the mouth of Goascoran River. It borders with Guatemala to the west along 203 kilometers from the Paz River to the mount at the Trifinio de Montecristo. The southern border is dominated by the Pacific Ocean from the mouth of the Paz River down to the Goascoran River for approximately 321 kilometers, while the southeastern frontier is marked by the Gulf of Fonseca, a natural border with Nicaragua.
The country’s coastline stretches out from the mouth of the Paz River all the way to the Goascoran watercourse. Coasts are generally low and swampy, save in the regions of balm and across from the Jucuaran-Intipuca-Conchagua Mountain Range where craggy shores are the name of the game (the Gulf of Fonseca coastline). There are numerous gullies, capes, tidelands, inlets and islets along the coasts.
El Salvador has more than 300 rivers and torrents, none of them good for navigation as a result of abundant rainfall and the structural arrangement of the relieve.However, due to the mountain’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean where those rivers flow into, as well as to rainfall during one season of the year, most watercourses are not plentiful and quite short. In fact, lots of springs run dry during the drought season, while the country0s rugged topography allows usage of rapids and waterfalls –with an estimated potential force of 300,000 Hp- for power generation.Lempa is the nation’s main river, running down for 350 kilometers from the Moras Mountains through Esquipulas in Guatemala and to its mouth in the Pacific Ocean. Its hydrographic delta embraces 87% of the country’s territorial surface. This is also the most plentiful and regular river despite overflowing occurrences into farmlands during the rainy season that usually plays considerable havoc with crops.Other remarkable rivers are –running southbound from the the Pacific Sierras- the Quezalapa River in Guatemala that serves as borderline between both nations; the Jiboa that flows into the Ilopango Lake; the Grande de San Miguel that shares watercourses with three different springs and rivulets coming down from the Cocaguatique Mountains and drains into El Salvador’s eastern part; and finally the Goascoran River in Honduras that also serves as a natural frontier with its neighboring country all the way down to its mouth in the Gulf of Fonseca.
El Salvador sports countless lakes that provide gorgeous landscapes used in tourist activities and in sports.Most of these lakes are volcanic and tectonic in origin. Some of the most outstanding ones are the Güija –the largest with 300 square kilometers and located along the Guatemalan border and born out of a former volcano that caved in. The Ilopango (78 square km) and next to the capital, and the Coaatepeque in the heels of the Santa Ana Volcano, famous for its medicinal waters. The Coaatepeque is the smallest, yet the deepest of these three aforesaid lakes (120 meters deep).Other lesser lakes and ponds in different departments the country is divided into are: Ahuachapan, El Llano, Las Ninfas, Laguna Verde, Santa Ana, Metapn, Cuscacuapa, Chalatenango, Suchitlan, Cuscatlan, La Paz, Nahualapa, San Vicente, Laguna de Chalchuapa, Apastepeque, Ciega, Talqueza, El Matazano, Cajon, Alegria, Aramuaca, San Juan, Olomega, Jocotal, Los Negritos, El Pilon, Managuara and Maquigue.
El Salvador is a mountainous country featuring a subtropical climate affected by height and sea effects. Therefore, its flora is very varied and assorted. Oak and pine woods abound in the mountains, while savanna species can be found in the central plains and valleys. El Salvador is blessed with sought-after trees like cedar, mahogany, laurel and medlar. According to some official estimates, 90% of El Salvador’s vegetation has been felled. Two-thirds of the country are strongly affected by erosion and subjected to inappropriate farming. Nearly 2% of original forests remain intact.The maquilishuat is the national tree, a leafy species whose branches and twigs are stripped of leaves in winter and only pink and white flowers remain attached to the trunk.Tropical species bloom in coastal areas, such palm trees, coconut trees and mangoes. There’re over 200 orchid species all over El Salvador, as well as luring motley-colored flowers. In order to preserve the country’s flora in its natural and original state, ecological reserves and nature parks have been set up.
Given the fact that 67% of the country’s lands are tapped into farmlands and stock-breeding grazing grounds, the nation’s endemic species are less abundant than in the neighboring nations. Nevertheless, the country shows off a great variety of birds and reptiles. Some good cases in point are the flocks of magpies and cranes, as well as turtles and different crocodile species. There’re over 400 bird species, including 17 types of hummingbirds that can be watched up close in the Cerro Verde National Park. With a view to curb these problems and prevent some of these species from vanishing altogether, ecological reserves and national parks have been set up as havens for the country’s precious wildlife. Some of the most important locations are the Cerro Verde National Park, the Deininger Park, El Imposible, Nancuchiname, La Laguna del Jocotal and the Montecristo Nebulous Forest
