El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America, bordered by Guatemala to the northwest, Honduras to the north and east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Unlike its neighbors, El Salvador has no Caribbean coastline. The country's terrain is dominated by two parallel mountain ranges running east to west, separated by a central plateau and valley region where most of the population lives, including the capital San Salvador. Numerous volcanoes rise along these ranges, among them Santa Ana, the country's highest peak, and Izalco.
El Salvador has a tropical climate with a wet season from May to October and a dry season from November to April, and temperatures vary mainly with elevation rather than season. The coastal lowlands along the Pacific are hot and humid year round, while the central plateau and highlands enjoy milder temperatures. The country lies within an active seismic zone along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes as well as volcanic activity.
El Salvador has lost much of its original forest cover to agriculture and urban development, and it now has one of the highest rates of environmental degradation in the region relative to its size. The government has expanded protected areas such as El Imposible National Park and has invested in reforestation and watershed restoration programs. Coastal mangrove ecosystems along the Pacific, particularly in the Bahia de Jiquilisco, remain important for biodiversity and coastal protection, though they face pressure from shrimp farming and development.
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Economy & Trade - El Salvador: History
History - El Salvador: Politics and Governance
Politics & Governance