El Salvador

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

13 50 N, 88 55 W

"Dios, Unión, Libertad" (Spanish) "God, Union, Freedom"
President Mauricio Funes

Capital
San Salvador

Government
Presidential republic

Religion
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8%.

Population
5,744,113

Ethnic group
85% Mestizo, 12% White/Caucasian, 1% Amerindian.

National Language                   
Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
           
National Day
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
         
Anthem
National Anthem of El Salvador

Currency
U.S. dollar2 (USD)

Attractions
Dixon Hill Lighthouse,  Father Schreiner's Grave,  Guanahani Divers,  Landfall Park,  Holy Saviour Roman Catholic Church,  New World Museum,  Rum Cay   Sandy Point Cave,  Telephone Pole,  Watling's Castle 

Website    
              

Art & Cultural

The ICON

Tazumal        Tazumal is a Pre-Columbian Maya archeological site in Chalchuapa, El Salvador. Tazumal means, "the place where the victims were burned," in K'iche'. The site is located in the heart of Chalchuapa in the department of Santa Ana, some 60 kilometers from the capital, San Salvador. This zone is within the archaeological area of Chalchuapa, which covers an approximate area of 10 km² and where other archaeological sites such as Pampe, Casa Blanca, Trapiche and Las Victorias are also located. Chalchuapa is a site which shows evidence of being influenced by Copán in Honduras, and also shares some stylistic elements that are more characteristic of central Mexican sites, such as Teotihuacan and the "Toltec"-style architecture at Tula.[citation needed] Tazumal includes a series of Maya ruins, including ceremonial architecture, that date to about AD 100-1200. The site includes an intricate water drainage system, a few tombs, adjacent minor pyramids, palaces and excavated ritual objects. Tazumal had a long and uninterrupted occupational history, from AD 100 until AD 1200, although its greatest development corresponds to the Classic period (AD 250–900). Around AD 900, the Toltec style pyramid in evidence today was constructed; a large ballcourt was also built at this time. The site was abandoned around AD 1200. The ruins of Tazumal are considered the most important and best preserved in El Salvador. The artifacts found at Tazumal provide evidence of ancient and active trade between Tazumal and places as far away as Panama and Mexico. The excavated ruins are part of an area covering 10 km² (4 sq mi), much of it buried under the surrounding town. Archaeologists estimate that the first settlements in the area of Chalchuapa date to around 1200 BC.