El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America and is smaller than the state of Massachusetts. This mountainous country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, and Honduras. Known as the Land of Volcanoes, El Salvador has frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. It is the only country in Central America that does not have a coastline on the Caribbean Sea.
In 1524, Pedro de Alvarado, a Spanish conquistador sent by Hernán Cortés from Mexico, invaded El Salvador. After being forced to retreat by Amerindian resistance, he returned in 1525, defeated the Pipil and founded Sonsonate and San Salvador. During Spanish colonial period, San Salvador was one of six administrative regions under the captaincy-general of Guatemala. Spanish settlement consisted of a few cattle ranchers and some farmers.
Like many flags of nations in Central America, the flag of El Salvador uses blue and white, because these were the colors of the United Provinces of Central America, a union of Central American nations after achieving independence from Spain.
Like the banner of the Federal Republic of Central America, the banner of El Salvador has three equivalent groups of blue on the top and base, and white in the middle. El Salvador's banner uses a more profound blue than that of the Central American banner.
The principle form of El Salvador's national banner, used by government associations, has the crest of El Salvador fixed on the white stripe. The crest has a triangle with five volcanoes, speaking of the individuals from the previous Central American union. The Phrygian top, a red cap, beat a staff reflects the freedom. Behind the top is the sun with radiating beams, enclosed by the date of El Salvadorian independence. At the highest point of the triangle is a rainbow, symbolizing peace.
Surrounding the triangle are five blue and white flags, which also represent the nations of Central America. Below the triangle, the motto of El Salvador is written on a scroll: Dios, Union, Libertad (God, Union, Liberty). Branches of laurel frame the triangle, representing victory. The branches are divided into fourteen sections, representing the fourteen Departments of El Salvador. Encircling all of this is the full name of the nation, Republica de El Salvador en la America Central, which translates to Republic of El Salvador in Central America.
In 1524, Pedro de Alvarado, a Spanish conquistador sent by Hernán Cortés from Mexico, invaded El Salvador. After being forced to retreat by Amerindian resistance, he returned in 1525, defeated the Pipil and founded Sonsonate and San Salvador. During Spanish colonial period, San Salvador was one of six administrative regions under the captaincy-general of Guatemala. Spanish settlement consisted of a few cattle ranchers and some farmers.
Like many flags of nations in Central America, the flag of El Salvador uses blue and white, because these were the colors of the United Provinces of Central America, a union of Central American nations after achieving independence from Spain.
Like the banner of the Federal Republic of Central America, the banner of El Salvador has three equivalent groups of blue on the top and base, and white in the middle. El Salvador's banner uses a more profound blue than that of the Central American banner.
The principle form of El Salvador's national banner, used by government associations, has the crest of El Salvador fixed on the white stripe. The crest has a triangle with five volcanoes, speaking of the individuals from the previous Central American union. The Phrygian top, a red cap, beat a staff reflects the freedom. Behind the top is the sun with radiating beams, enclosed by the date of El Salvadorian independence. At the highest point of the triangle is a rainbow, symbolizing peace.
Surrounding the triangle are five blue and white flags, which also represent the nations of Central America. Below the triangle, the motto of El Salvador is written on a scroll: Dios, Union, Libertad (God, Union, Liberty). Branches of laurel frame the triangle, representing victory. The branches are divided into fourteen sections, representing the fourteen Departments of El Salvador. Encircling all of this is the full name of the nation, Republica de El Salvador en la America Central, which translates to Republic of El Salvador in Central America.
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