Central America is the area between the southern border of Mexico in North America, and the northwestern border of Colombia in South America. Geographers do not consider Central America a continent; it is usually considered a geographical part of North America. Some geographers call Central America a great isthmus; in this geographical sense, this sometimes includes the part of Mexico which lies east of the Tehuantepec isthmus, namely the Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo. It is the most common position that Central America is within the borders of the countries between Mexico and Colombia.
According to COUNTRYAAH, states of Central America include:
- BELIZE
- COSTA RICA
- EL SALVADOR
- GUATEMALA
- HONDURAS
- NICARAGUA
- PANAMA
El Salvador
Central American El Salvador is located on the headland between North and South America, between Guatemala and Honduras. In the south El Salvador borders the Pacific Ocean, the coast is lined with numerous sandy beaches. These beaches make El Salvador an insider tip for tourists from all over the world.
The landscape in the interior of El Salvador is characterized by numerous mountains and volcanoes, the hills are covered by dense, tropical forests. In these forests, visitors will find a diverse flora and fauna, for example 200 different types of orchid grow in El Salvador. Holidaymakers in El Salvador can find out more about the most beautiful hiking trails to the volcanoes and the best access to the country’s tropical forests in 14 tourism centers.
The capital of El Salvador is San Salvador, a city of nearly three million people in the center of the country. San Salvador lies at the foot of the volcano of the same name and is one of the largest cities in Central America.
The name El Salvador means “the Savior” or “the Savior” in German, a name that refers to the religious past and the Catholic faith of the people in El Salvador. The majority of the population of El Salvador today is mestizo. The culture in El Salvador is largely based on the rites and traditions of the ancestors. Therefore, many of today’s actions and ways of life of people are very traditional and a mirror of the past. Many of the stories and legends that are still told in the country today come from oral traditions. These stories, like songs, are passed on from generation to generation.
The music in El Salvador has the characteristics of typical Central American folk music. In some of the dances, European influences are also represented.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, which is also often referred to as the Switzerland of Central America, covers an area of over 51,000 square kilometers. The Central American country stretches from the Pacific to the Caribbean coast. The Nicoya Peninsula protrudes more than 100 kilometers into the Pacific and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. In the north Costa Rica borders on the neighboring state Nicaragua, in the south it borders on Panama. In tropical Costa Rica, the rainy season is from May to November, with rainfall being particularly heavy on the Caribbean coast. The dry season lasts from December to April.
The central interior of Costa Rica is characterized by the mountain range of the Cordilleras. In addition to Chirripó Grande, the highest mountain in Costa Rica at over 3,800 meters, there are also numerous volcanoes, including the Arenal, the Poás and the Irazú. At over 3,400 meters, the Irazú is also the highest volcano in the country.
At the foot of the Arenal volcano lies the largest lake in Costa Rica, Lake Arenal. The reservoir not only supplies Costa Rica with electricity, it is also very popular with water sports enthusiasts and anglers. The Monteverde nature reserve is located in the immediate vicinity of Lake Arenal. The cloud forest, which offers protection to numerous native animal species as well as migratory birds, extends over more than 10,000 hectares.
The Central Valley stretches in the interior of Costa Rica from the northern Heredia province to the Tárcoles river valley in the southwest. The capital San José with its more than 300,000 residents lies over 1,000 meters above sea level in the plateau of the Central Valley.
The Coconut Islands are particularly famous which are located around 500 kilometers off the country’s Pacific coast. Pirates like Henry Morgan and Benito Bonito are said to have hidden their treasures on the almost 24 square kilometer island. However, the island has a lot to offer not only to treasure hunters. Coconut Island’s rainforest is home to numerous endemic plants and bird species. The island and its coastal area have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997.
