El Salvador is a rather complex corner of the Americas. Located in Central America, it lies on the Pacific Ocean, not far from the Caribbean coasts of neighboring Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, leaving it in the path of hurricanes from both sides. It also lies on the Middle American Trench, part of the larger Ring of Fire, that separates the North American, Caribbean, and Cocos plates. As a result, El Salvador is prone to frequent and intense earthquakes. Each major city in the country has its own volcano of the same name (some cities have two or more). Obviously, these pose great risk to the Salvadorans, but they also have provided the country with fertile soil. Historically, agriculture has been the primary economy. However, in recent decades, they have transitioned into a manufacturing economy, especially for clothes. Much of these are maquilas, with Salvadoran workers being paid very little, and most of the profit and socioeconomic development going to service-based developed nations, notably the United States.
