El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. The country has had many problems since gaining independence from Spain in 1821. Political unrest and coup d'é·tat were common, and a violent civil war that raged from 1980 until 1992 resulted in more than 75,000 deaths and 1 million Salvadorans displaced from their homes. The turmoil in El Salvador is not only political: the country is located in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, where two tectonic plates meet. As a result, the country experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In addition, its geographic location makes it subject to damage from severe storms coming from both the Pacific and Caribbean. Nonetheless, El Salvador enjoys a mild climate ideal for growing coffee and other important crops. There's a lot to discover about El Salvador!