Everything you need to know about El Salvador: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more

El Salvador: Beautiful Country Scarred by Civil Strife's and Natural Disasters

El Salvador was a colony of Spain and became the part of Central America Federation after Spain ceded it to America in 1821. The federation dissolved in 1838 that resulted n independence to El Salvador in 1838. El Salvador was ruled by series of military dictatorship from 1931 to 1979. In 1969, El Salvador invaded Honduras after Honduran landowners throws out thousand of Salvadorans. The four-day war became known as the ?football war? because it broke out during a soccer game between the two countries.

The 1970's civil war engulfed whole of El Salvador and resulted in a mass movement against dictatorship, which costs thousands lives of Salvadoran lives and resulted in losses worth billions of dollars. The aftermath of this revolution resulted in a new beginning for El Salvador leading to political stability and a welfare state. Government of En Salvador signed the peace pact with guerrilla forces in order to bring harmony in the country.

El Salvador Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures

National Name: Republic of El Salvador

• Capital: San Salvador
• Total area : 21,041 sq km (8,124 sq miles)
• Population: 6.9 million (UN, 2007)
• Currency: US dollar & Salvadoran colon
• Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
• Ethnicity/ Races: Mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%
• Religion: Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)
• GDP (Per Capita): $6,000 (2007 est.)
• Life Expectancy: Male: 68.45 years, Female: 75.84 years (2008 est.)
• Literacy Rate: Male: 82.8%, Female: 77.7%years (2003 est.)

Geographical Information on El Salvador :

Situated on the Pacific coast of Central America, El Salvador has Guatemala to the west and Honduras to the north and east. It is the smallest of the Central American countries and also called as Tom Thumb of the Americas. It borders on the Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and Honduras on the Gulf of Fonseca.

The climatic condition of El Salvador is tropical in nature marked by wet and dry seasons. The low-lying Pacific areas are affected with the humid weather conditions whereas the central plateau region or mountainous areas are moderate and cool. The southern mountainous slopes are prone to heavy rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms, which is influenced by low pressure caused at the Pacific.

Culture, Cuisine and Tradition Of El Salvador:

The El Salvador Culture is highly influenced by Roman Catholicism, which is the main El Salvadoran religion. Culture of El Salvador also includes, Spanish, Nahua, Mayan, Pipil, Aztec and West African regions. El Salvador is a place with rich cultural background and its variance can be seen in customs, beliefs and practices of Salvadorans.

The cuisine of En Salvador is similar to that of its Central American neighbors. The indigenous foods of El Salvador based on corn, beans, squash and tomatoes. The influence of Mayan culture can be seen on Salvadoran method of foods preparations.

Tourist Attraction of El Salvador:

The El Salvador promotes the concept of Eco-Tourism because of its blessed natural landscapes and geographical location. El Salvador has variety of flora and fauna that provide opportunities for tourists to explore the beauty of nature. The unspoiled natural beauty that has perfect combination of flora and fauna has given the opportunity for El Salvador to promote the concept of Eco-Tourism in the country.

Major Sight-seeing Places in El Salvador include:

•  Montecristo Cloud Forest

• Los Chorros

•  El Impossible National Park

•  Barra de Santiago:

•  Balboa Park

•  The Devil's Doorway