El Salvador is a small country with a remarkably diverse and dynamic natural environment. Shaped by volcanic activity, seasonal rainfall and its location along the Pacific Ocean, the country’s geography plays a central role in daily life. From fertile agricultural land to tourism-rich coastlines, the environment provides both opportunities and challenges for the people who live there.
Throughout the country, there is a wide variety of ecosystems. There are moist forests, dry forests and mangroves. The geography of El Salvador is volcanic with 22 active volcanoes. Volcán Chaparrastique (Chaparrastique Volcano) is the most active volcano, right outside my city of San Miguel. The volcanoes also cause frequent earthquakes. El Salvador has a tropical climate with a rainy season (May to October) and a dry season (November to April). Seasons don’t determine temperature but elevation does.
The country sits on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Because of the volcanoes, some of the beaches have black volcanic sand. There also are incredible waves, making it a surfing tourist destination. On the eastern side of the country, there are white sand beaches.
