EL SALVADOR

Presentation to Takoma Campus Elementary SchoolPresentation to Takoma Campus Elementary School

2014-2015 Embassy Adoption Program 2014-2015 Embassy Adoption Program

BASIC INFORMATIONBASIC INFORMATION

El Salvador is located in Central America, in the middle of the American Continent.

The official spoken language is Spanish and there is also a growing population of English Speakers as well as other foreign languages.

The Salvadoran Territory is approximately 8,123 square miles (20,742 Km²).

It has an estimate total population of 7.1 million and the 2008 census shows a population of 5.8 million living in El Salvador. 

On September 15th 1821 it became independent from the Spaniards and this is the day we celebrate our independence with joy.

Official Name:Official Name: Republic of El Salvador Republic of El Salvador

EL SALVADOR’S TERRITORY

The country borders to the South with the Pacific Ocean, to the North East with Guatemala and the North with Honduras..

El Salvador is divided into 14 Departments and they are also subdivided into 262 Municipalities.

This is an aerial view of the This is an aerial view of the Capital of El Salvador, Capital of El Salvador,

San Salvador.San Salvador.

OUR HISTORYOUR HISTORY

El Salvador del MundoEl Salvador del MundoIs the Patron of the city Is the Patron of the city

of San Salvadorof San Salvador

Before the arrival of The Spaniards in 1524, El Salvador was known as Cuscatlán that means “The land of Beautiful Jewels”.

El Salvador’s first habitants were the “Pipiles” and “Chibchas”, indigenous tribes descendants of the Mayas and also the Nahuas.

The Spaniard conquerors gave Cuscatlán the religious name of “El Salvador”, that means “The Savior”.

CURRENCYCURRENCY

On January 1st 2001 our legal currency On January 1st 2001 our legal currency became the US Dollar and the Colón was still became the US Dollar and the Colón was still a national currency but eventually was not a national currency but eventually was not used for economic transactionsused for economic transactions. .

Before the year 2001 our currency was the Before the year 2001 our currency was the Colón and Centavos. Colón and Centavos. Its value was (100 centavos = 1 colón)Its value was (100 centavos = 1 colón)

NATIONAL SYMBOLSNATIONAL SYMBOLS National Coat of Arms:National Coat of Arms: It has been used since 1912. It has been used since 1912. Its Its

center consists of a triangle , in center consists of a triangle , in which five which five volcanoesvolcanoes rise out of rise out of the sea. the sea.

They symbolize the five member They symbolize the five member states of the states of the United Provencies United Provencies of Central America of Central America

Salvadoran MOTTOSalvadoran MOTTO::

Dios Unión LibertadDios Unión Libertad God, Union, LibertyGod, Union, Liberty

National FlagNational Flag:: It has 2 blue stripes and a white It has 2 blue stripes and a white one in the middle where our Coat one in the middle where our Coat of Arms is located.of Arms is located.

NATIONAL SYMBOLSNATIONAL SYMBOLSThe National Bird is the TOROGOZ, known for its beauty and vivid colors

The National Flower is called Flor de IZOTE. The fruit of the izote plant is used for cooking in El Salvador.Izote is a type of yucca plant.

NATIONAL SYMBOLSNATIONAL SYMBOLSThe National Trees are the Maquilishuat and the Bálsamo.

They were both legally decreed on September 1939 but the Maquilishuat is the one who has stolen de hearts of The Salvadoran and has become more known than the Bálsamo.

The Maquilishuat

(tabebuia Rosea) it can grow to be 15 meters high.

It blooms between February and April and when it does it is into a magestic vivid rose color.

The BálsamoThe Bálsamo

grows in between 15 and 20 grows in between 15 and 20 meters high.meters high.

It blooms beautiful white It blooms beautiful white flowers displayed in groupsflowers displayed in groups

• The Legislative Branch of government is the

Legislative Assembly and determines

statutory laws. It has the power to levy taxes,

ratify or reject treaties negotiated

by the executive branch with foreign

governments or international organizations,

and regulate the civil service.

• The Judicial Branch of government is headed

by the Supreme Court of Justice.

The Supreme Court is divided into three

chambers.

Government Palace in San Salvador

• The Executive Branch of government is

conformed by the President of the Republic,

the Vice President, Ministers and Vice Ministers

of state, and their subordinate officials.

GOVERNMENT STRUCTUREGOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

PRESIDENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF EL SALVADORREPUBLIC OF EL SALVADOR

His Excellency Salvador Sanchez Ceren

DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Around the World we Around the World we

have:have:

8 International Missions8 International Missions

35 Embassies35 Embassies

63 Consulates63 Consulates

In the United States there is:In the United States there is:

1 Embassy in Washington DC1 Embassy in Washington DC

17 Consulates located within 17 Consulates located within the 50 US states.the 50 US states.

Ambassador of El Salvadorto the United States of America

His Excellency Francisco Altschul

310 Kms. (193 Miles) of Beaches

Mayan Archeological Sites

25 Volcanoes (5 ACTIVE)

Colonial Town & Artisan Villages

Protected Ecological Areas And Parks

Beautiful Lakes

Rapid Rivers

TOURISMTOURISMEl Salvador may be very small in size but it has beauties and wonders for all ages and it is growing in its Tourism. We can offer YOU a relaxing walk in our beautiful beaches, water sports and adventure in our lakes and volcanoes, cultural views and great cuisine in our gorgeous towns, ruins, museums and fairs.

OUR BEACHESOUR BEACHESBeaches of Black, Gray and Golden Beaches of Black, Gray and Golden Sand.Sand.

The largest Rocky reef of the Northern The largest Rocky reef of the Northern Pacific (a paradise for Surfers & Pacific (a paradise for Surfers & Divers) Divers)

A beautiful Gulf with a lot of Sealife A beautiful Gulf with a lot of Sealife and natural ecosystems.and natural ecosystems.

Estuaries with mangrove channels Estuaries with mangrove channels ideal for Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing, ideal for Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing,

Sailing and Bird watching.Sailing and Bird watching.

Excellent accesibility, Complete Tourist Excellent accesibility, Complete Tourist Services (Hotels, Restaurants and Tour Services (Hotels, Restaurants and Tour

Operators in the area).Operators in the area).

International Fishing (Sailfish & Marlin) International Fishing (Sailfish & Marlin) as well as Surfing Tournamentsas well as Surfing Tournaments. .

ARCHEOLOGICAL ARCHEOLOGICAL SITESSITES

Joyas de Cerén or Joyas de Cerén or “Jewel of Cerén”, “Jewel of Cerén”, was declared a was declared a World Heritage World Heritage

Site by UNESCOSite by UNESCO. . Tazumal RuinsTazumal Ruins

San Andrés RuinsSan Andrés Ruins

Joyas de CerénJoyas de Cerén

Tazumal was one of the first major Salvadoran sites to

be scientifically excavated.

The site is surrounded by the modern city of

Chalchuapa.

The Tazumal park also contains the large Olmec

rock carving from finca Las Victorias.

Cerro VerdeCerro Verde

has a paved road to the has a paved road to the Summit, it outlooks an Summit, it outlooks an Orquideary, there are Orquideary, there are playgrounds for playgrounds for children, Resting areas, children, Resting areas, people go to do some people go to do some bird watching and bird watching and ascend to different ascend to different trails.trails.

MAJESTIC VOLCANOESIzalco VolcanoIzalco Volcano

is one of the Youngest in is one of the Youngest in America and it is 6,400 ft America and it is 6,400 ft

high.high.

Ilamatepec VolcanoIlamatepec Volcano

is located in Santa Ana it is is located in Santa Ana it is the Highest and Active the Highest and Active Volcano with 7,760 ft.Volcano with 7,760 ft.

Chinchontepeque VolcanoChinchontepeque Volcano

is located in San Vicente is located in San Vicente and it is 2,181 meters high and it is 2,181 meters high

(7,155 ft).(7,155 ft).

TTRRAADDIITTIIOONNSS Traditional Traditional clothing is clothing is made in made in cottons, with cottons, with very colorful very colorful materials for materials for girls and whites girls and whites for boysfor boys

El Salvador rich past is manifested in its

traditional music and dances, which narrate

folkloric stories of the lives form the

indigenous and Spaniards.

The music that most Salvadorans dance to is the Cumbia, its a fusion of the Native Maya, Pipil, Nahua and Spanish. Folk music is known for its melodies on the marimba.

TRADITIONAL FOODTRADITIONAL FOOD

PupusasPupusas

They are exquisite corn patties They are exquisite corn patties stuffed with cheese, pork, beans stuffed with cheese, pork, beans or a mixture of the three (called or a mixture of the three (called “revueltas”). You can eat them “revueltas”). You can eat them plain or with “curtido” plain or with “curtido” (cabbage salad) and tomato (cabbage salad) and tomato salsa.salsa.

Quesadillas

They are a type of sweet bread or cheesecake made with sour cream, fresh cheese (sharp or parmesan), sugar, baking powder, butter and rice flour, eggs, etc.

You can eat quesadillas for breakfast or as a snack, you can have them anytime during the day.

DRINKS & REFRESHMENTSDRINKS & REFRESHMENTS

Horchata is the representative drink of El Salvador. It is Horchata is the representative drink of El Salvador. It is made of roasted rice flour, Morro seeds (a fruit similar to made of roasted rice flour, Morro seeds (a fruit similar to the pumpkin) and sweet spices. the pumpkin) and sweet spices. The powdered rice can be mixed with either milk or The powdered rice can be mixed with either milk or water. water. It has a very special flavor that Salvadorans love!It has a very special flavor that Salvadorans love!

Cool drinks or “frescos”, are Cool drinks or “frescos”, are

mostly made with tropical fruits mostly made with tropical fruits

and served with crushed ice. and served with crushed ice.

Cashew Fruit Drink or Fresco de

marañon

DID YOU KNOW ?El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, its El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, its size is a little smaller than the US State of Massachusetts.size is a little smaller than the US State of Massachusetts.

El Salvador’s coast has the warmest waters of the Pacific El Salvador’s coast has the warmest waters of the Pacific Ocean and it’s the only one without a coastline on the Ocean and it’s the only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea.Caribbean Sea.

El Salvador is located in the Valley of Hammocks in Central El Salvador is located in the Valley of Hammocks in Central America. It is known as the Valley of the Hammocks America. It is known as the Valley of the Hammocks because of its constant tremors and earthquakes. because of its constant tremors and earthquakes.

From the early 19th Century to the mid 1950s, Izalco erupted From the early 19th Century to the mid 1950s, Izalco erupted with a regularity that earned it the name with a regularity that earned it the name ""Lighthouse of the Lighthouse of the Pacific."Pacific." Its brilliant flares were clearly visible for great Its brilliant flares were clearly visible for great distances at sea, and at night its glowing lava turned it into distances at sea, and at night its glowing lava turned it into a brilliant luminous conea brilliant luminous cone

El Salvador has a lot of artisans, they are very talented creating crafts with their hands El Salvador has a lot of artisans, they are very talented creating crafts with their hands and using their imagination. and using their imagination.

They can create a lot of products with vivid colors and shapes. Some materials used They can create a lot of products with vivid colors and shapes. Some materials used by artisans are: clay, wood, glass, canvas, seeds, feathers, paint, acrylic, chalk and by artisans are: clay, wood, glass, canvas, seeds, feathers, paint, acrylic, chalk and some others.some others.

This products have become very popular and known to our tourists who come visit our This products have become very popular and known to our tourists who come visit our country, it has created an industry within our soil and abroad for commercial country, it has created an industry within our soil and abroad for commercial development including exportation of these crafts and art.development including exportation of these crafts and art.

Thank you!

Gracias!