What is the capital of San Salvador?
The settlement of Cockburn Town (pronounced Koburn Town), located on the island's tranquil west coast, is the capital of San Salvador and its largest settlement. It is the center of all activities on the island, and houses the airport, Administrator's office, Post Office, clinic, telecommunication station, and electricity generators.
How did San Salvador Island get its name?
San Salvador Island (known as Watling's Island from the 1680s until 1925) is an island and district of The Bahamas. It is widely believed that during Christopher Columbus 's first expedition to the New World, this island was the first land he sighted and visited on 12 October 1492. He named it San Salvador after Christ the Saviour.
When did the settlement of El Salvador begin?
The settlement of El Salvador begins long ago around the year 3000 BC. In addition to this, there is also evidence of indigenous paintings on cave walls assumed to have originated near the year 8000 BC; these drawings can still be seen today.
How many people live on San Salvador Island?
About 940 people reside on San Salvador Island and its principal community is Cockburn Town, the seat of local government. The town has a population of 271. A Club Med resort, called "Columbus Isle", is located just north of Cockburn Town.
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What is the main settlement of Salvador?
Cockburn TownSan Salvador's main settlement is Cockburn Town (pronounced Ko-burn) on the west coast with a population of 486. Its famous landmarks include an enormous white-washed building that used to be a Catholic church, replaced by an adjacent modern structure, and the New World Museum.
What is San Salvador known for?
San Salvador is the country's leading financial, commercial, and industrial centre; transportation is also centred there, with railroads and highways linking it with the Pacific ports of Acajutla, La Unión (Cutuco), and La Libertad.
Who settled in El Salvador first?
The Spanish conquest and colonization of El Salvador began in 1524 with the arrival of an expedition from Guatemala led by Pedro de Alvarado. Alvarado's troops met determined opposition from a Nahua tribe, the Pipil, that occupied much of the region west of the Lempa River.
What was San Salvador first called?
GuanahaniSan Salvador is also called the land of lakes and Columbus' Isle. It is about 12 miles long and five miles wide. Its original name was Guanahani. Later it was called Watling's Island after George Watling, a noted buccaneer.
What does the name Salvador mean?
saviourSalvador (meaning "saviour" in Catalan, Spanish, and Portuguese) is normally an indirect way of naming a Messiah.
Why is it called San Salvador?
It is widely believed that during Christopher Columbus's first expedition to the New World, this island was the first land he sighted and visited on 12 October 1492. He named it San Salvador after Christ the Saviour.
Who is the richest person in El Salvador?
Carlos SlimCarlos Slim HelúKnown forCEO of Telmex, América Móvil, and Grupo Carso World's richest person, 2010–13Spouse(s)Soumaya Domit ( m. 1967; died 1999)Children6, including CarlosRelativesAlfredo Harp Helú (cousin)6 more rows
What are 5 interesting facts about El Salvador?
7 of the Most Interesting Facts About El SalvadorEl Salvador's nickname is the Land of Volcanos. ... There are volcanos on El Salvador's flag. ... The national bird of El Salvador is the Torogoz. ... El Salvador is a surfer's paradise. ... Coffee beans from El Salvador are world-famous. ... There are pyramids in El Salvador.More items...•
Who are the richest families in El Salvador?
El Salvador Ricardo Poma and Roberto Kriete are, in fact, the only Salvadorans included in the last list of “richest men of Central America” of Forbes México, published in April.
Who named San Salvador?
On October 12, 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus made landfall in what is now the Bahamas. Columbus and his ships landed on an island that the native Lucayan people called Guanahani. Columbus renamed it San Salvador.
Who lived on San Salvador?
At that time the island was populated by the Lucayans, an Indian population which lived by fishing and agriculture. After befriending these people, the admiral explored the island, going north from Long Bay where his fleet was anchored and rowing some twenty miles in search of an entrance through the barrier reef.
What was the first land discovered in America?
10th Century — The Vikings: The Vikings' early expeditions to North America are well documented and accepted as historical fact by most scholars. Around the year 1000 A.D., the Viking explorer Leif Erikson, son of Erik the Red, sailed to a place he called "Vinland," in what is now the Canadian province of Newfoundland.
What are 3 interesting facts about El Salvador?
7 of the Most Interesting Facts About El SalvadorEl Salvador's nickname is the Land of Volcanos. ... There are volcanos on El Salvador's flag. ... The national bird of El Salvador is the Torogoz. ... El Salvador is a surfer's paradise. ... Coffee beans from El Salvador are world-famous. ... There are pyramids in El Salvador.More items...•
Is San Salvador worth visiting?
El Salvador may be the smallest country in Central America but it's certainly one of its most charming. Less touristy than its neighbours, El Salvador is rich in natural beauty, pristine beaches, countless volcanoes, many Maya ruins and a great culture and rich history.
What's the difference between El Salvador and San Salvador?
San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, is the second largest city in Central America (after Guatemala City in Guatemala), home to an entire third of the El Salvador population. As a result, San Salvador contains affluent suburbs as well as slums, representing the discrepancy in the country's distribution of wealth.
What language do they speak in El Salvador?
SpanishEl Salvador / Official languageSpanish is a Romance language of the Indo-European language family that evolved from colloquial spoken Latin in the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Today, it is a global language with nearly 500 million native speakers, mainly in the Americas and Spain. Spanish is the official language of 20 countries. Wikipedia
What is El Salvador known for?
Although the country is small, it is very heavily populated. El Salvador is known for being the most densely populated country in Central America. This map displays the entire country using variations of the color orange to demonstrate where more people can be found. The scale of the map is determined by the persons per kilometer and persons per square mile. The map shows that the most populated area is the capital, San Salvador. This is also the only location throughout the country that has nearly 518 people per square mile. It is also evident that there are few areas where there is little to no population. ("Population," 2000)#N#Click here to learn more about the settlement patterns of El Salvador.
Where did the Pipil Indians settle?
Photo: The Pipil Indians settled in western El Salvador and called their home Cuzcatlán. (Rivera, 2008)
Who did Alvarado defeat?
1525 - One year after invading the country, Alvarado defeats the Pipil warriors.
Is El Salvador a farming country?
El Salvador is a highly agricultural country. Even when the first settlers lived in the land, agriculture was the main source of trade and living. Among this popular source of trade was coffee. This continued to be the main resource of trade until recently when competition posed a threat. The map demonstrates the majority of El Salvador's land is cultivated in order to grow resources such as coffee, cotton, sugarcane, cereals, and fiber crops. ("Vegetation and land," 2000)
Where is the capital of San Salvador?
Located on the west coast of San Salvador, is the island’s capital, Cockburn Town (pronounced Ko-burn), where one can find local government offices, police, a post office, a government clinic, and an electrical utilities company.
How many people live on San Salvador?
The average temperature is 80 degrees. The local resident population on San Salvador today consists of approximately 1000 persons who live in several small communities around the perimeter of the island.
What are the most famous landmarks in San Salvador?
Historic sites and monuments in San Salvador include Columbus’s cross, the Olympic Flame monument, the ruins of Watling Castle, and one of the last Kerosene lighthouses still in operation — the Dixon Hill Lighthouse. Columbus Monument, Landfall Park, Long Bay. After 33 days at sea, on 12 October 1492, ...
Where did Columbus land?
Columbus Monument, Landfall Park, Long Bay. After 33 days at sea, on 12 October 1492, Columbus landed at beautiful Fernandez Bay (Long Bay). Erected on Christmas Day in 1956 by Ruth Durlacher Wolper, this white cross commemorates the landfall of Christopher Columbus on San Salvador in 1492. Watlings Castle, Sandy Point Estates.
What time does the Bank of the Bahamas open in San Salvador?
Banking in San Salvador. A local branch for the The Bank of the Bahamas is open Monday thru Friday, 10 am to 2 pm. San Salvador Phones and Power. Electricity and telephone service is available to all but the smallest of communities on the southeastern side of the island.
What is the average rainfall in San Salvador?
Annual rainfall for San Salvador averages 100 cm. Cold fronts from the north bring winter rains, and summer rains result from convection. The major rainy season is from September to November, caused by tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes. Getting to San Savador.
How hot is San Salvador in the summer?
The island is cooled in the summer when temperatures range from 22 to 32 degrees C , and warms it in the winter when temperatures range from 17 to 27 degrees C, due to the moderating effect of the Antilles Current flowing past San Salvador.
Who settled San Salvador?
The island was called Guanahani by the natives, before its discovery. In the 17th century, San Salvador was settled by an English buccaneer, John Watling (alternately referred to as George Watling), who gave the island its alternative historical name.
Where is San Salvador Island?
San Salvador Island (known as Watling's Island from the 1680s until 1925) is an island and district of the Bahamas. It is widely believed that during Christopher Columbus 's first expedition to the New World, this island was the first land he sighted and visited on 12 October 1492.
How many tides does San Salvador have?
Past the shelf, the slope becomes almost vertical and depth quickly increases to 4,000 meters. San Salvador Island experiences a semi-diurnal tide, with two high tides and two low tides per day. Water temperature in San Salvador can range from 23⁰C to 29⁰C (73f to 84f) depending on the location and time of year.
How many people live on San Salvador Island?
About 940 people reside on San Salvador Island and its principal community is Cockburn Town, the seat of local government. The town has a population of 271. A Club Med resort, called "Columbus Isle", is located just north of Cockburn Town. Nearby is the Pleistocene Cockburn Town Fossil Reef.
What is the name of the island in the Galápagos?
For San Salvador Island of the Galápagos, see Santiago Island (Galápagos).
What was the name of the island that the United Kingdom controlled?
In 1925, the name "San Salvador" was officially transferred from another place, now called Cat Island, and given to "Watling's Island", based on historians believing it to be a more likely match for Columbus's description of Guanahani.
When did Hurricane Lili hit San Salvador?
Hurricane Lili struck San Salvador in 1996. Hurricane Floyd struck in 1999, and caused damage to homes, tourist facilities, businesses, and infrastructure, and caused considerable beach erosion.
Overview
History
Before the Spanish conquest, the Pipil people established their capital, Cuzcatlan, near the current location of San Salvador. Not much is known about Cuzcatlan, as it was abandoned by its inhabitants in an effort to avoid Spanish rule. Under the orders of conquistador Pedro de Alvarado, his associates Gonzalo de Alvarado and Diego de Holguín occupied the empty settlement and began to d…
Municipal government
The cities in El Salvador, by constitutional provision (Article 203), are economically and administratively autonomous. San Salvador is governed by a council consisting of a mayor (elected by direct vote every three years, with an option to be re-elected), a trustee and two or more aldermen whose number varies in proportion to the population of the municipality. The functions and po…
Geography
The city is located in the Boquerón Volcano Valley, a region of high seismic activity. The city's average elevation is 659 meters (2,162 feet) above sea level, but ranges from a highest point of 1,186 meters (3,891 feet) above sea level to a lowest point of 596 m (1,955 ft) above sea level.
The municipality is surrounded by these natural features of the landscape: the …
Demographics
Spanish is the language spoken by virtually all inhabitants. English is spoken more widely than in the past, due mainly to cultural influences from the United States, especially in entertainment, and the large number of Salvadoran emigrants returned from the United States. According to the 2007 Census, 72.3% of the population of San Salvador is mestiza/castiza, 25.8% is white, having mostly Spanish ancestry, and a few of French or German descents. Other smaller ethnic groups in the w…
Economy
San Salvador disproportionately concentrates economic activity in the country. The metropolitan area accounts for 3% of the national territory but 70% of public and private investment is made there. The economy of San Salvador, Antiguo Cuscatlán, and Santa Tecla is a mixed one composed mainly of services, private education, banking, business headquartering, and industrial manufacturing. Ot…
Urban development
Early colonial development could not anticipate the extensive growth of the city in the following centuries. Thus, the city contains many narrow streets which create traffic problems, and sidewalks are often overcrowded. As the expansion of San Salvador continues, the need for infrastructure improvements becomes more acute.
During the 1960s, urban expansion was most prevalent in the northern and southern parts of th…
Architecture
San Salvador's colonial structures, especially its colonial cathedrals, have been destroyed over time by historic earthquakes, consequently Modernist and Gothic style cathedrals have taken their place. During the Salvadoran civil war, large building construction projects were halted and eventually cancelled due to the collapse of the economy; the remainder of early Modernist office and hotel …