What are the main landforms in northern El Salvador?

The northern region of El Salvador is characterized by two primary landforms:

• Northern Highlands: Extending along the entire northern border, this range of highlands reaches average elevations of 5,000 to 6,000 feet (1,500 to 1,800 meters). These mountains are formed by ancient, heavily eroded volcanic structures.1
• Interior Plain: Situated south of the northern highlands and parallel to the central volcanic range, this broad plain is drained by the Lempa River. It sits at elevations between 1,300 and 2,000 feet (400 and 610 meters) and is intermittently broken by ancient, dormant volcanic structures.1

Additionally, in the extreme northwestern part of the country, there are limited outcrops of limestone rock associated with older, non-volcanic structures found in Honduras. Due to factors such as steep slopes, excessive forest clearance, and soil overuse, the northern highlands have experienced significant environmental deterioration.1