El Salvador Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in El Salvador?

Overview

El Salvador, with an area of 8,260 square miles, is the smallest independent state in Central America. El Salvador is rectangular in shape, 60 miles wide and 160 miles long.

El Salvador has 350 rivers. The largest, the Rio Lempa, flows 150 miles from northern to central El Salvador, forming one of the most important Pacific watersheds in Latin America. It is El Salvador's only navigable river.

The land is 90% volcanic in origin, and many places still bear the scars. The country’'s topography is rough and irregular from continuous volcanic activity, accounting for El Salvador’s rich soil. Two volcanic mountain ranges, a central one parallel to the Pacific and a northern one along the border with Honduras, run across almost the entire length of the country. The two ranges divide El Salvador into three distinct and progressively higher zones. The plains along the Pacific Ocean are at sea level; the central plateau is 2,000 feet above sea level; and the northern highlands rise more than 3,000 feet. Although the central plateau represents only 25% of the total area, it contains the heaviest concentration of population and the largest cities.

Geography - note

smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

Climate

El Salvador's tropical climate has pronounced wet and dry seasons. The dry season, "verano" or summer, from December to April is dusty, especially in rural areas. The hottest months of the year, March and April, immediately precede the rainy season, "invierno" (winter). During the May-November rainy season, mornings are usually clear, with heavy rains in early evening and at night. Thunder and strong winds occasionally accompany the rain, and some June and September mornings are overcast. Occasional 2- to 3-day rainy spells occur. The average annual rainfall is 66 inches.

The three geographic zones have distinct climatic characteristics. The narrow coastal belt is a hot tropical savanna with lush vegetation and temperatures that average 80°F. The central highlands, where San Salvador lies, are slightly cooler, with an average temperature of 73°F. San Salvador's temperatures range from 50°F to 90°F throughout the year. Incoming polar air infrequently causes cold nights and even frost. The highlands in the extreme north of El Salvador are consistently cool.

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have littered El Salvador's history. Earthquakes ranging from 6.5 to 7.9 on the Richter Scale have struck the country at least 15 times since 1700. The most serious recent earthquakes occurred on January 13 and February 13, 2001. Although damage in San Salvador was slight, schools, hospitals, businesses, and public buildings throughout the country were damaged or destroyed. These two powerful quakes resulted in 1,300 deaths and left more than one million homeless. Infrastructure damages are estimated at $1.6 billion, or 12% of the country's GDP.

Of the volcanoes located within the metropolitan area of San Salvador, Volcano San Salvador erupted last in 1917 and Volcano Ilopango in 1879.

Although hurricanes do not usually threaten El Salvador directly, strong Caribbean storms can generate heavy winds and rains. Hurricane Mitch hit El Salvador in November 1998, generating extreme rainfall which caused widespread flooding.

El Salvador Use of Natural Resources

El Salvador Environment

Climate:

Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Natural Resources:

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Natural Hazards:

known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Irrigated Land:

174 Square Miles
450 Square Kilometers

Environmental 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

El Salvador Geography

Geographic Location	Central America
Total Area	8,124 Square Miles 21,041 Square Kilometers
Land Area	8,000 Square Miles 20,721 Square Kilometers
Water Area	124 Square Miles 320 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries	339 Miles 545 Kilometers
Irrigated Land	174 Square Miles 450 Square Kilometers
Border Countries	Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline	191 Miles 307 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates	13 50 N, 88 55 W
Terrain	mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Highest Point	2,730 Meters
Highest Point Location	Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Lowest Point Location	Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural Resources	hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Time Zone	UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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