El Salvador

Jessica HernandezSpan1411.11

The smallest and most densely populated country in Central America, El Salvador adjoins the Pacific in a narrow coastal plain, backed by a volcanic mountain chain, and a fertile plateau

• It has a total of 21 VolcanosOne of these Volcanos had a minor eruption on October 1, 2005. Spewing up clouds of ash and rocks, its effect reached nearby villages and caused two deaths

Land area: 8,000 sq mi (20,720 sq km); total area: 8,124 sq mi (21,040 sq km)

Population (2010 est.): 6,052,064

Gov. (REPUBLIC)

CapitalEl Salvador's capital is San Salvador with a population of 7,066,403

SportsOne of the main and popular sports in El Salvador is Soccer. Basketball, baseball, tennis and swimming are other favorites.

HolidaysHoly Week, March or April: Celebrated before Easter. Salvadorans hold processions during this week. On Easter weekend, most people celebrate by going to church and to the beach.

San Salvador Feast (Feast of the Holy Savior), Aug. 3-6: Celebrated with a carnival, fireworks, dancing and parades.

Independence Day, Sept. 15

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24, 25: Homes are decorated with elaborate nativity scenes that can fill a whole room, Christmas trees are decorated and children receive presents on Christmas Eve.

Music

• Salvadorans enjoy the rhythms of the Caribbean. Guitars, marimbas and drums are used in church services. Most of the music on Salvadoran radio is standard pop fare from the United States, Mexico or other parts of Latin America, but there's a small underground movement of canción (folk music) that draws its inspiration from current events in El Salvador.

Food

• El Salvador's national dish is called a "Pupusa"

Random Facts

• El Salvador has used the U.S. dollar as its official currency since 2001

• Its the smallest country in Central America (slightly smaller than the US state of Massachusetts)

• El Salvador has some of the best surfing beaches in the world

• The country name, El Salvador, literally means "the savoir" in spanish

• Had a civil war which lasted 12 years (1980-1992). Peace Accords were signed in Mexico on January 16, 1992

MS-13

• Known as Mara Savatrucha, or MS-13, is one the most notorious gangs in the world.

• MS-13 currently has over 50,000 members in the US, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Cities like San Salvador, El Salvador’s capital, experience some of the highest murder rates in the world.

Sources

• Wikipidea.com