Geography Mnemonic to Learn the Countries of Central America

Caitlin Dempsey

Updated:

Central America is found at the southernmost portion of the North American continent. Central America is a land bridge that connects the continents of North America and South America.

Central America, a region comprising seven countries—Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama—is bordered by Mexico to the north and Colombia to the south. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west of Central America and the Caribbean Sea lies to the east.

Visual Aid: Map of Central America

A shaded relieve map showing the seven countries of Central America.

What is a mnemonic?

A mnemonic is a memory aid designed to help individuals recall information more easily. It often involves using patterns of letters, ideas, or associations that are easier to remember than the data itself. Mnemonics can take various forms, such as acronyms, phrases, rhymes, or visual images, all aimed at making the retrieval of complex information simpler. By creating these mental shortcuts, mnemonics enhance memory retention and recall.

Geography mnemonics for Central American countries

Using a mnemonic to memorize names and order from north to south

A mnemonic to memorize not just the countries of Central America but also the order in which they are located from north to south is:


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Big Gorillas Eat Hotdogs, Not Cold Pizza:

  • Belize
  • Guatemala
  • El Salvador
  • Honduras
  • Nicaragua
  • Costa Rica
  • Panama

Alternative mnemonics for Central America

Bright Green Elephants Hopped Near Calm Pools:

  • Belize
  • Guatemala
  • El Salvador
  • Honduras
  • Nicaragua
  • Costa Rica
  • Panama

Baby Godzilla Eats Hotdogs, Not Cocoa Puffs:

  • Belize
  • Guatemala
  • El Salvador
  • Honduras
  • Nicaragua
  • Costa Rica
  • Panama

Geography Facts about Central America

Central America spans an area of 521,876 square kilometers (201,497 square miles). As of 2016, the estimated total population of this region is 44.53 million.

The conical volcano in the center is "Volcan de Agua." The two volcanoes behind it are, right to left, "Volcan de Fuego" and "Acatenango." "Volcan de Pacaya" is in the foreground. Photo: NASA/Stu Broce
The conical volcano in the center is “Volcan de Agua.” The two volcanoes behind it are, right to left, “Volcan de Fuego” and “Acatenango.” “Volcan de Pacaya” is in the foreground. Photo: NASA/Stu Broce

Many mountain ranges are found in Central America. The highest peak in Central America is Volcán Tajumulco located in western Guatemala.

The highest point in each country in Central America is:

CountryNameElevation (meters)
BelizeDoyle’s Delight1124
Costa RicaCerro Chirripó3820
El SalvadorCerro El Pital2730
GuatemalaVolcán Tajumulco4220
HondurasCerro Las Minas2780
NicaraguaMogotón2107
PanamaVolcán Barú3474

Central America is part of the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot and holds 7% of the world’s biodiversity. Central America is an important landing spot as part of the  Pacific Flyway, a major north–south flyway for migratory birds in the Americas.

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About the author
Caitlin Dempsey
Caitlin Dempsey is the editor of Geography Realm and holds a master's degree in Geography from UCLA as well as a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from SJSU.