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El Salvador:
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Other pages in this profile of El Salvador:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
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. |
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Location |
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras |
Geographic coordinates |
13 50 N, 88 55 W |
Map references |
Central America and the Caribbean |
Area |
total: 21,040 sq km land: 20,720 sq km water: 320 sq km |
Area - comparative |
slightly smaller than Massachusetts |
Land boundaries |
total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km |
Coastline |
307 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate |
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands |
Terrain |
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m |
Natural resources |
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land |
Land use |
arable land: 31.37% permanent crops: 11.88% other: 56.75% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
450 sq km (2003) |
Natural hazards |
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes |
Environment - current issues |
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes |
Environment - international agreements |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
Geography - note |
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |