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Chalatenango
—  Department  —
Flag
Location within El Salvador
Coordinates: 14°10′23″N 89°04′34″W / 14.173°N 89.076°W / 14.173; -89.076Coordinates: 14°10′23″N 89°04′34″W / 14.173°N 89.076°W / 14.173; -89.076
Country	El Salvador
Created (given current status)	1855
Seat	Chalatenango
Area
• Total	2,017 km2 (779 sq mi)
Area rank	Ranked 5th
Population
• Total	274,878
• Rank	Ranked 10th
Time zone	CST (UTC−6)
ISO 3166 code	SV-CH

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 220,000 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 [edit]

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 [edit]

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 blonde and light skinned people may still be found in the Chalatenango Department today.^[1]

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 [edit]

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 Luis del Carmen
30. San Miguel de Mercedes
31. San Rafael
32. Santa Rita
33. Tejutla

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• 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

v t e Departments of El Salvador Ahuachapán Cabañas Chalatenango Cuscatlán La Libertad La Paz La Unión Morazán San Miguel San Salvador San Vicente Santa Ana Sonsonate Usulután

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