| Geography and Climate |
El Salvador is located in Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras. Area comparatively slightly smaller than Massachusetts.
Climate in El Salvador is tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April). Terrain consists of mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau.
Elevation extreme has a lowest point in Pacific Ocean 0 m and highest point in Cerro El Pital 2,730 m. Natural resources are hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum. Land use: arable land: 27%, permanent crops: 8%, permanent pastures: 29%, forests and woodland: 5%, other: 31% (1993 est.). Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.).
Natural hazards are known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Geography—note: smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
Ref. Anonymous, 1999 |