Relief
El Salvador's topography is rugged due to volcanic and tectonic activity. Located on the edge of the North American plate, earthquakes are frequent. There are over 70 volcanoes, some 20 of which are active. There are also a series of valleys.
To the north lies the Sierra Madre, stretching from Guatemala to Honduras. Here lies the country's highest peak, El Pital , at 2,730 m.
In the center of the country lies a plateau with an average altitude of around 600 m. This is actually a furrow carved out by the Lempa river. Tectonic shifts have occurred over the course of history, and intense eruptive activity has produced volcanic edifices such as the Chingo, Santa Ana, Izalco, San Salvador, San Vicente, Tecapa, Usulután and Cerro Guazapa volcanoes. This winding line of closely-spaced volcanoes is a geographical feature peculiar to the country. The most important: Ilamatepec or Santa Ana volcano (2,381 m), Chinchontepec or San Miguel volcano (2,181 m), Chaparrastique or San Miguel volcano (2,132 m). The rich soils at the base of these volcanoes are ideal for growing coffee.
Finally, the coastal plain is a narrow strip 25 km wide, stretching from the Guatemalan border to the Gulf of Fonseca. This is a highly fertile region, where sugarcane is the main crop.
The valley most notable for its size is the upper Lempa River valley. Other important valleys are : Zapotitán, Río Grande de San Miguel, Jiboa, Zalcuatitán (also called Las Hamacas, where the city of San Salvador is located).
Rivers, lakes and coastline
The Lempa River is the country's most important waterway. Although it originated in Guatemala, 360 km of its 422 km flow through El Salvador. It enters the country from the north and divides the Sierra Madre in two. It changes direction and quickly flows out to sea. The Río Lempa is navigable for many kilometers. It is an intensively exploited river, with a succession of dams along its course, for irrigation and hydroelectricity.
The rest of the rivers - some 300 in all - are short, fast and with spectacular floods.
Throughout the country, there are small lakes of volcanic origin, occupying the interior of ancient craters. The most important are: Lake Ilopango (72 km²), Lake Guija (45 km²) shared by El Salvador and Guatemala, Lake Olomeca (24.2 km²) and Lake Coatepeque (24 km²), the latter considered one of the 10 most beautiful lakes in the world. Lake Suchitlán (135 km²) was created by damming the Río Lempa.
El Salvador has 321 km of Pacific coastline.
