Total Area: 21,041 sq km
Land Area: 20,721 sq km Water Area: 320 sq km Climate Description: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands Terrain Description: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau Arable Land Use: 31.37% Permanent Crop Land Use: 11.88% Irrigated Land: 450 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources: 25.2 cu km (2001) Total Fresh water Withdrawal: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%) Per Person Fresh Water Withdrawal: 186 cu m/yr (2000) Natural Hazards Description: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes volcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (elev. 1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital, which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (elev. 2,130 m), which last erupted in 2002, is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana Environmental Current Issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes Total Labor Force: 2.593 million (2012 est.) % of Labor Force in Agriculture: 21% Agricultural Products Description: coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products |