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fiogf49gjkf0d GENERAL DESCRIPTION. -------------------- EL SALVADOR IS SITUATED IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND COVERS AN AREA OF 21,041SQ KM. IT IS BORDERED BY GUATEMALA ON THE NORTHWEST, BY HONDURAS TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST AND BY THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO THE SOUTH, WITH A COASTLINE STRETCHING FOR 335KM. EL SALVADOR MAY BE BROKEN INTO TWO HIGHLAND MOUNTAIN CHAINS AND THREE LOWLAND REGIONS. THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS CONTAIN THE METAPIN AND THE CHALATENANGO FORMING THE HONDURAS BORDER. THEY THEN DESCEND IN THE SOUTH TO THE LEMPA RIVER. THE VALLEY MOUNTS TO A HIGHER VOLCANIC CHAIN IN THE SOUTH. IT COMPRISES OF OVER 20 VOLCANOES, MANY ACTIVE. THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST POINT IS SANTA ANA AT 2381M ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
TO THE SOUTH OF THE VOLCANO RANGES LIES A NARROW COASTAL PLATEAU. THIS STRETCHES THE LENGTH OF THE COUNTRY ALONG THE PACIFIC. THE CENTRAL PLAIN, IS RICH IN VOLCANIC SOILS AND COVERS ABOUT A FOURTH OF THE TOTAL LAND AREA. EL SALVADOR HAS APPROXIMATELY 300 RIVERS, THE PRINCIPAL ONE BEING THE LEMPA.
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