San Doloroso
The
Republic of San Doloroso is one of the poorest
countries in Central America. It has a land area of
96,400 square kilometres and a population of five
and a half million people. It shares borders with
Nicaragua to the north and Costa Rica to the south.
On the east coast lies the Caribbean Sea and on the
west the Pacific Ocean. The capital city is Toronja and the
unit of currency is the Cambur.
Originally a Spanish colony, the country
has a significant ethnic mix. The indigenous
population rubs
shoulders with people
of European extractionand
a sizeable minority descended from black slaves.
There are also many people of mixed race. The official
language is Spanish, although Escoria is also widely
spoken and English is taught as a second language in
some schools. The country is largely Roman Catholic,
although the pre-Christian Escoria religion still has influence
in some areas.
Conquered by the Spanish in the early Sixteenth Century, for a time San Doloroso formed part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It achieved independence from Europe in 1821 but for a time was part of the Federal Republic of Central America. It became fully independent in 1839 and adopted the name San Doloroso in tribute to the revolutionary leader Simón Doloroso.