Morazán Department

Morazán (Spanish pronunciation: [moɾaˈsan]) is a department of El Salvador. Located in the northeast part of the country, its capital is San Francisco Gotera. It covers a total surface area of 1,447 km² and has a population of more than 199,500.

This article is about the department of El Salvador. For the department of Honduras, see Francisco Morazán Department.
Morazán
Department
Flag of Morazán
Flag
Location within El Salvador
Location within El Salvador
Coordinates: 13°46′30″N 88°05′53″W
Country El Salvador
Created
(given current status)		1875
SeatSan Francisco Gotera
Area
 • Total1,447.4 km2 (558.8 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 7th
Population
 • Total199,519
 • RankRanked 12th
 • Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
ISO 3166 codeSV-MO
El Chorreron, San Fernando

History

Gotera was made a department in 1875, with its capital at Osicala. On February 8, 1877, Gotera was made the capital. The department changed its name from Gotera to Morazán on March 14, 1877.

Morazán was a major stronghold of the guerrilla movement during the 1979-1992 civil war. The infamous El Mozote massacre took place in this department in the village of El Mozote on December 11, 1981, when Salvadoran armed forces killed an estimated 900 civilians in an anti-guerrilla campaign. Originally dismissed by the Salvadoran and United States governments as an invention of anti-government propaganda, the massacre was confirmed in the early 1990s through exhumation of bodies buried at the site. A museum commemorating the Salvadoran civil war, the Museum of the Revolution, was established in the municipality of Perquín.

Agriculture

Among the agricultural products that stand out are the basic grains, sugar cane, henequen, grass, orchard plants, bananas, cocoa, and coffee. Livestock cultivation of cattle, horses, donkeys and sheep is also common.

Municipalities
  1. Arambala
  2. Cacaopera
  3. Chilanga
  4. Corinto
  5. Delicias de Concepción
  6. El Divisadero
  7. El Rosario
  8. Gualococti
  9. Guatajiagua
  10. Joateca
  11. Jocoaitique
  12. Jocoro
  13. Lolotiquillo
  14. Meanguera
  15. Osicala
  16. Perquín
  17. San Carlos
  18. San Fernando
  19. San Francisco Gotera
  20. San Isidro
  21. San Simón
  22. Sensembra
  23. Sociedad
  24. Torola
  25. Yamabal
  26. Yoloaiquín

Geography
Llano del Muerto waterfall in Perquin

Rio Sapo

The Sapo River is an ecotourism destination whose turquoise-colored waters have their source in the heights of the north of Morazán. The Sapo River is reached by the highway that drives from Joateca to Arambala. 1 km. after the bridge there is a deviation with access to housing operated by Prodetur.

Grotto of Corinto

Located at 48 kilometers from San Francisco Gotera, is the municipality of Corinto and a kilometer and a half to the northeast is located the "La Gruta del Espíritu Santo" (The Holy Spirit Grotto). The grotto's walls of talpetate contain a series of petroglyphs.

Perquín
Main article: Perquín
Perquín traditional dance
Traditional dance during the Winter Festival (celebrated beginning of every August) in Perquín, Morazán (El Salvador)

The village of Perquín was founded by Lenca tribes before European settlement. It is located at 29 kilometers to the north of San Francisco Gotera. It is the site of El Salvador's Museum of The Revolution. It is also the site of the Deadman's Plain, the Bailadero del Diablo, La Cascada del Perol. CHILANGA-------- Chilanga, is located 2 kilometers to the north of San Francisco Gotera. And is also one of the municipalities with more importance in the department. With a population of over 11,000 people it's also one of the more grown town in population. The Center of Chilanga has a public school"Dr David Turcios", a park, Catholic Church, city hall, Health Center , local court, Police precinct, Local soccer team Stadium, and many local businesses places. Chilanga's fireworks (cohetes de Don Ciro) are popular and famous in the entire region and part of the East of the country.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Morazán.
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