El Salvador
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - El Salvador
Country name - conventional long form : Republic of El Salvador
Country name - conventional short form : El Salvador
Country name - local long form : Republica de El Salvador
Country name - local short form : El Salvador
Country name - former :
Country code : ES
Government type : republic
Capital - name : San Salvador
Capital - time difference : UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Population : 7,066,403 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Salvadoran(s)
Nationality - adjective : Salvadoran
Languages : Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Currency (code) : US dollar (USD)
Currency code : USD
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk : high
Major infectious diseases - note :
El Salvador is located Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras. The climate is tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands. The terrain is mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.
