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El Salvador

northeast. Also, with a total area of 8,123 square miles (21,041 square kilo- meters), El Salvador is the smallest of the seven Central American coun- tries. Shaped like a rectangle, it is slightly smaller in area than the state of Massachusetts. In population, however, it is the third largest Central American country and the most densely populated. Because it is such a small nation, El Salvador lacks a wide range of natural resources. Most of the inhabited country is on a fertile volcanic plateau about 2,000 feet (607 meters) high. In addition, because El Salvador is without major mountains to influence the weather, there are few variations in rainfall and temperature. catastrophe— a violent, usually destructive, natural event. drought— a long period without rain. geological— having to do with the earth’s structure. isthmus— a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas. magnitude— great size or amount. plantation— a large estate or farm where crops such as coffee, bananas, cotton, or rub- ber trees are grown, usually worked by resident laborers. plateau— a level land area raised sharply above nearby land on at least one side. preserve— an area set aside for the protection and preservation of plants and animals. Richter scale— a scale for measuring the severity of earthquakes created by Charles F. Richter. tectonic— having to do with the crust of a planet, its faults and folds. vegetation— plant life. Words to Understand in this Chapter