El Salvador - Overview

Location:

Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands

Population:

6,948,073 (July 2007 est.)

Capital:

name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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.