Island of Meanguera and Island of Pirigallo
Photo: Noelesp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
El Salvador: Ecotourism - The Izalco Volcano Site: The Izalco Volcano, partially covered by clouds, is a natural draw for tourists.
Photo: Angela Rucker, USAID, Public domain · source
Did you know?
Historically, the territory comprising modern-day El Salvador was inhabited by various Mesoamerican civilizations, notably the Olmecs - whose presence around the first millennium BCE is attested by archeological monuments - followed by the Maya and later the Cuzcatlecs. In 1524, the region was conquered by the Spanish Empire and subsequently incorporated into the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Because the central administration in Mexico City exercised limited direct oversight over the Central American isthmus, Spain established the Captaincy General of Guatemala in 1609, an administrative division that included the territory of El Salvador throughout the colonial period.
Wikipedia: El Salvador – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Panoramic view Mayan pyramids and central plaza at La Acropolis, San Andres, El Salvador (structures 1 - forefront- and 2)
Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
This is a photo of an monument in El Salvador identified by the ID
Photo: Joshue, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Etymology
After the Spanish conquest, the land was divided into the Province of San Salvador, the Spanish version of "Holy Saviour", a biblical title for Jesus. From 1579, it included the province of San Miguel (Saint Michael). Throughout the colonial era, El Salvador was an alcaldía mayor ('great mayor's office'), an intendancy, a province with a provincial council, and the province of Izalco; later called the mayor's office of Sonsonate. In 1824, the two jurisdictions were united in the State of Salvador, a part of the Federal Republic of Central America.
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This is a photo of an monument in El Salvador identified by the ID
Photo: otrarove, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
History
During the Pleistocene epoch, the region was inhabited by extinct megafauna, including the giant ground sloth Eremotherium, the toxodontid Mixotoxodon, the gomphothere Cuvieronius, the glyptodont Glyptotherium, the camelid Hemiauchenia, and the prehistoric horse Equus conversidens. Archeological evidence, particularly fluted stone projectile points discovered in western El Salvador, incidicates that human settlement likely dates back to the Paleoindian period.
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CEO, of Impact Inc.
Photo: ChristyMary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Vulkan Chaparrastique, El Salvador aktiv Ende 2013
Photo: MBurch, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Geography
El Salvador lies in the isthmus of Central America between latitudes 13° and 15°N, and longitudes 87° and 91°W. It stretches 270 km (168 mi) from west-northwest to east-southeast and 142 km (88 mi) north to south, with a total area of 21,041 km2 (8,124 sq mi). As the smallest and most densely populated country in continental America, El Salvador is affectionately called Pulgarcito de America (the "Tom Thumb of the Americas"). El Salvador shares borders with Guatemala and Honduras, as well as a coastline with the Pacific Ocean.
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Artesanías de Tucán en Ilobasco
Photo: ElmerGuevara, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Government and politics
The 1983 constitution has the highest legal authority in the country. El Salvador has a democratic and representative government, whose three bodies are:
The Executive Branch, headed by the President of the Republic, who is elected by direct vote and remains in office for five years with no re-election but can be elected after sitting out one electoral period. The president has a Cabinet of Ministers whom he appoints, and is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Legislative Branch, called El Salvador's Legislative Assembly (unicameral), consisting of 60 deputies.
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Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador
Photo: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · source
Estatuta Ecuestre del General Barrios, obra de Francisco Durini
Photo: Brigadier044, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Handcraft Bag
Photo: Sammiethedeadrat, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Economy
El Salvador's economy has been hampered at times by natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, by government policies that mandate large economic subsidies, and by official corruption. Subsidies became such a problem that in April 2012, the International Monetary Fund suspended a $750 million loan to the central government. President Funes' chief of cabinet, Alex Segovia, acknowledged that the economy was at the "point of collapse".
Gross domestic product (GDP) in purchasing power parity estimate for 2021 is US$57.95 billion growing real GDP at 4.2% for 2021.
Wikipedia: El Salvador – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
La Esquina de Ataco
Photo: Samuel Cruz Prado, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Demographics
El Salvador's population was 6,314,167 in 2021, compared to 2,200,000 in 1950. In 2010 the percentage of the population below the age of 15 was 32.1%, 61% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 6.9% were 65 years or older. The capital city of San Salvador has a population of about 2.1 million people. An estimated 42% of El Salvador's population live in rural areas. Urbanization has expanded at a phenomenal rate in El Salvador since the 1960s, with millions moving to the cities and creating associated problems for urban planning and services.
There are up to 100,000 Nicaraguans living in El Salvador.
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Central Geotérmica de Berlín, El Salvador
Photo: MBurch, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Cuscatlan Stadium
Photo: JMRAFFi, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Máscaras de barro en Ilobasco
Photo: ElmerGuevara, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Culture
Pulling from indigenous, colonial Spanish and African influences, a composite population was formed as a result of intermarrying between the natives, European settlers, and enslaved Africans. The Catholic Church plays an important role in the Salvadoran culture. Archbishop Óscar Romero is a national hero for his role in resisting human rights violations that were occurring in the lead-up to the Salvadoran Civil War. Significant foreign personalities in El Salvador were the Jesuit priests and professors Ignacio Ellacuría, Ignacio Martín-Baró, and Segundo Montes, who were murdered in 1989 by the Salvadoran Army during the height of the civil war.
Wikipedia: El Salvador – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
