Chalatenango Department

Chalatenango
Department
Flag
Location within El Salvador
Coordinates:
Country	El Salvador
Created (given current status)	1855
Seat	Chalatenango
Area
• Total	2,016.6 km2 (778.6 sq mi)
Area rank	Ranked 5th
Highest elevation	2,730 m (8,960 ft)
Population
• Total	204,808
• Rank	Ranked 10th
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone	CST (UTC−6)
ISO 3166 code	SV-CH
Website	www.chalatenango.gob.sv

Chalatenango is a department of El Salvador, located in the northwest of the country. The capital is the city of Chalatenango. The Chalatenango Department encompasses 2,017 km² and contains more than 204,000 inhabitants. Las Matras Archaeological Ruins contains the relics of prehistoric populations and caves in which rock writing is found. The "5 de Noviembre" Hydroelectric Dam is found in Chalatenango Department, near the border with Cabañas. The highest point in the country, El Pital with an elevation of 2730.06 m, is also located in Chalatenango Department.

Agriculture

The most cultivated agricultural products are the basic grains, henequen (a type of agave), coffee, fruits, orchard plants, and vegetables, horses and cattle, and wilderness agriculture. Moreover, plaster, gold, lime, clay lead, silver, and zinc can be found there.

History

Around 1790, Francisco Luis Héctor de Carondelet, Governor of El Salvador, found that the local indigenous population working in Chaletenango's indigo industry had declined greatly. Carondolet responded by bringing poor Spaniards to settle, with the result that many blonde and light skinned/eyed people may still be found in the Chalatenango Department today.

Chalatenango was made a department on February 14, 1855.

During the 1980s, the department was the stronghold of the Farabundo Martí Popular Forces of Liberation (FPL), one of the two largest groups in the Frente Farabundo Martí Para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN).

Municipalities

El Pital mountain

La Palma

1. Agua Caliente
2. Arcatao
3. Azacualpa
4. Chalatenango
5. Citalá
6. Comalapa
7. Concepción Quezaltepeque
8. Dulce Nombre de María
9. El Carrizal
10. El Paraíso
11. La Laguna
12. La Palma
13. La Reina
14. Las Vueltas
15. Nombre de Jesús
16. Nueva Concepción
17. Nueva Trinidad
18. Ojos de Agua
19. Potonico
20. San Antonio de la Cruz
21. San Antonio Los Ranchos
22. San Fernando
23. San Francisco Lempa
24. San Francisco Morazán
25. San Ignacio
26. San Isidro Labrador
27. San José Cancasque
28. San José Las Flores
29. San José Ojos de Agua
30. San Luis del Carmen
31. San Miguel de Mercedes
32. San Rafael
33. Santa Rita
34. Tejutla

External links

• Alcaldia Municipal de Chalatenango, 2009-2012.
• Atlas Geográfico Universal y de El Salvador. Editorial Oceano. Edición 1995 ISBN 84-494-0135-6
• Sitio web del departamento de Chalatenango