Ethnic groups in Central America
Population and density
Table:
Country or
territory with flag

Area
(km2) (per sq mi)

Population
(July 2012 est.)

Population density
per km2

Capital

Guatemala

108,889 km2 (42,042 sq mi)

14,099,032

116.8/km2 (4,913.9/sq mi)

Guatemala City

Belize

22,966 km2 (8,867 sq mi)

307,899

13/km2 (546.9/sq mi)

Belmopan

El Salvador

21,040 km2 (8,120 sq mi)

6,090,646

330.2/km2 (13,891.9/sq mi)

San Salvador

Honduras

112,090 km2 (43,280 sq mi)

8,296,693

66.7/km2 (2,806.1/sq mi)

Tegucigalpa

Nicaragua

129,494 km2 (49,998 sq mi)

5,727,707

43.8/km2 (1,842.7/sq mi)

Managua

Costa Rica

51,100 km2 (19,700 sq mi)

4,636,348

70.8/km2 (2,978.6/sq mi)

San José

Panama

78,200 km2 (30,200 sq mi)

3,360,474

41.4/km2 (1,741.7/sq mi)

Panama City

Total

523,780

42,071,038

77.3/km2

Using the given table and the background passages listed below.

Give the answer to the question: What country lies north of the Central American nation with fewer than 5,727,707 but more than 3,360,474 people ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

The term country refers to a political state or nation or its territory . It is often referred to as the land of an individual 's birth , residence , or citizenship . A country may be an independent sovereign state or part of a larger state , as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division , a physical territory with a government , or a geographic region associated with sets of previously independent or differently associated people with distinct political characteristics . It is not inherently sovereign . Countries can refer both to sovereign states and to other political entities , while other times it can refer only to states . For example , the CIA World Factbook uses the word in its Country name field to refer to a wide variety of dependencies , areas of special sovereignty , uninhabited islands , and other entities in addition to the traditional countries or independent states . [ Note 1 ] The largest country in the world is Russia , while the most populated is China . The newest country is South Sudan .
A territory is an administrative division , usually an area that is under the jurisdiction of a state . In most countries , a territory is an organized division of an area that is controlled by a country but is not formally developed into , or incorporated into , a political unit of the country that is of equal status to other political units that may often be referred to by words such as provinces or states . In international politics , a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or any non-sovereign geographic area which has come under the authority of another government ; which has not been granted the powers of self-government normally devolved to secondary territorial divisions ; or both .
A flag is a piece of fabric ( most often rectangular or quadrilateral ) with a distinctive design and colours . It is used as a symbol , a signalling device , or for decoration . The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed , and flags have evolved into a general tool for rudimentary signalling and identification , especially in environments where communication is challenging ( such as the maritime environment , where semaphore is used ) . The study of flags is known as vexillology from the Latin vexillum , meaning flag . National flags are patriotic symbols with widely varied interpretations that often include strong military associations because of their original and ongoing use for that purpose . Flags are also used in messaging , advertising , or for decorative purposes . Some military units are called flags after their use of flags . A flag ( Arabic : لواء ) is equivalent to a brigade in Arab countries . In Spain , a flag ( Spanish : bandera ) is a battalion-equivalent in the Spanish Legion .
This is a list of the world 's countries and their dependent territories by area , ranked by total area . Entries in this list include , but are not limited to , those in the ISO 3166-1 standard , which includes sovereign states and dependent territories . All 193 member states of the United Nations plus the Vatican City are given a rank number . Largely unrecognised states not in ISO 3166-1 are included in the list in ranked order . The areas of such largely unrecognised states are in most cases also included in the areas of the more widely recognised states that claim the same territory ; see the notes in the notes column for each country for clarification . Not included in the list are individual country claims to parts of the continent of Antarctica , entities such as the European Union [ Note 1 ] that have some degree of sovereignty but do not consider themselves to be sovereign countries or dependent territories , and unrecognised micronations such as the Principality of Sealand . This list includes three measurements of area :
This is a list of countries and dependent territories by population . It includes sovereign states , inhabited dependent territories and , in some cases , constituent countries of sovereign states , with inclusion within the list being primarily based on the ISO standard ISO 3166-1 . For instance , the United Kingdom is considered as a single entity , while the constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands are considered separately . In addition , this list includes certain states with limited recognition not found in ISO 3166-1 . Also given in percent is each country 's population compared with the world population , which the United Nations estimates at 7.77 billion as of today .
This is a list of countries and dependent territories ranked by population density , measured by the number of human inhabitants per square kilometer , and also sortable by area and by population . The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories based upon the ISO standard ISO 3166-1 . The list also includes but does not rank unrecognized but de facto independent countries . All 193 member states of the United Nations plus the Vatican City are given a rank number . The figures in the following table are based on areas including inland water bodies ( lakes , reservoirs , rivers ) . Figures used in this article are mainly based on the latest censuses and official estimates or projections . Where these are not available , projections provided by the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs are used .
A capital or capital city is the municipality exercising primary status in a country , state , province , or other administrative region , usually as its seat of government . A capital is typically a city that physically encompasses the government 's offices and meeting places ; the status as capital is often designated by its law or constitution . In some jurisdictions , including several countries , the different branches of government are located in different settlements . In some cases , a distinction is made between the official ( constitutional ) capital and the seat of government , which is in another place . Capital cities that also serve as the prime economic , population , cultural , or intellectual centres of a nation or an empire are sometimes referred to as primate cities . Examples are Athens , Bangkok , Brussels , Copenhagen , Cairo , London , Mexico City , Paris , Lima , Seoul and Tokyo . News media often use the name of a capital city as an alternative name for the country of which it is the capital or of the government that is seated there , as a form of metonymy . For example , relations between Washington and London refer to relations between the United States and the United Kingdom .
Guatemala ( /ˌɡwɑːtəˈmɑːlə/ ( listen ) GWAH-tə-MAH-lə ; Spanish : [ gwateˈmala ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Guatemala ( Spanish : República de Guatemala ) , is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west , Belize and the Caribbean to the northeast , Honduras to the east , El Salvador to the southeast and the Pacific Ocean to the south . With an estimated population of around 17.2 million , it is the most populous country in Central America . Guatemala is a representative democracy ; its capital and largest city is Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción , also known as Guatemala City . The territory of modern Guatemala once formed the core of the Maya civilization , which extended across Mesoamerica . Most of the country was conquered by the Spanish in the 16th century , becoming part of the viceroyalty of New Spain . Guatemala attained independence in 1821 as part of the Federal Republic of Central America , which dissolved by 1841 . From the mid- to late-19th century , Guatemala experienced chronic instability and civil strife . Beginning in the early 20th century , it was ruled by a series of dictators backed by the United Fruit Company and the United States government . In 1944 , the authoritarian leader Jorge Ubico was overthrown by a pro-democratic military coup , initiating a decade-long revolution that led to sweeping social and economic reforms . A U.S.-backed military coup in 1954 ended the revolution and installed a dictatorship . From 1960 to 1996 , Guatemala endured a bloody civil war fought between the US-backed government and leftist rebels , including genocidal massacres of the Maya population perpetrated by the military . Since a United Nations-negotiated peace accord , Guatemala has witnessed both economic growth and successful democratic elections , though it continues to struggle with high rates of poverty , crime , drug trade , and instability .
Guatemala City ( Spanish : Ciudad de Guatemala ) , locally known as Guatemala or Guate , officially Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción ( New Guatemala of the Assumption ) , is the capital and largest city of Guatemala , and the most populous urban area in Central America . The city is located in the south-central part of the country , nestled in a mountain valley called Valle de la Ermita ( English : Hermitage Valley ) . It is estimated that its population is about 1 million . Guatemala City is also the capital of the Municipality of Guatemala and of the Guatemala Department . Guatemala City is the site of the Mayan city of Kaminaljuyu , founded around 1500 BC . [ citation needed ] Following the Spanish conquest , a new town was established , and in 1776 it was made capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala . In 1821 , Guatemala City was the scene of the declaration of independence of Central America from Spain , after which it became the capital of the newly established United Provinces of Central America ( later the Federal Republic of Central America ) . [ citation needed ] In 1847 , Guatemala declared itself an independent republic , with Guatemala City as its capital . The city was almost completely destroyed by the 1917-18 earthquakes . Reconstructions following the earthquakes have resulted in a more modern architectural landscape . [ citation needed ] Today , Guatemala City is the political , cultural , and economic center of Guatemala . It is served by La Aurora International Airport .
Belize ( /bəˈliːz/ ( listen ) ) is a Caribbean country located on the northeastern coast of Central America . Belize is bordered on the northwest by Mexico , on the east by the Caribbean Sea , and on the south and west by Guatemala . It has an area of 22,970 square kilometres ( 8,867 sq mi ) and a population of 408,487 ( 2019 ) . Its mainland is about 180 mi ( 290 km ) long and 68 mi ( 110 km ) wide . It has the lowest population and population density in Central America . The country 's population growth rate of 1.87% per year ( 2018 estimate ) is the second highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere . The Maya Civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 B.C . and A.D. 300 and flourished until about 1200 . European contact began in 1502 when Christopher Columbus sailed along the Gulf of Honduras . European exploration was begun by English settlers in 1638 . This period was also marked by Spain and Britain both laying claim to the land until Britain defeated the Spanish in the Battle of St. George 's Caye ( 1798 ) . It became a British colony in 1840 , known as British Honduras , and a Crown colony in 1862 .
Belmopan ( /ˌbɛlmoʊˈpæn/ ) is the capital city of Belize . Its population in 2010 was 16,451 . Although it is the smallest capital city in the continental Americas by population , Belmopan is the third-largest settlement in Belize , behind Belize City and San Ignacio . Founded as a planned community in 1970 , Belmopan is one of the newest national capital cities in the world . Since 2000 Belmopan has been one of two settlements in Belize to hold official city status , along with Belize City . Belmopan is located in Cayo District at an altitude of 76 metres ( 249 feet ) above sea level . Belmopan was constructed just to the east of the Belize River , 80 km ( 50 mi ) inland from the former capital , the port of Belize City , after that city 's near destruction by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 . The government was moved to Belmopan in 1970 . Its National Assembly Building is designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple .
El Salvador ( /ɛl ˈsælvədɔːr/ ( listen ) ; Spanish : [ el salβaˈðoɾ ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of El Salvador ( Spanish : República de El Salvador , literally Republic of The Savior ) , is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America . It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras , on the northwest by Guatemala , and on the south by the Pacific Ocean . El Salvador 's capital and largest city is San Salvador . As of 2018 [ update ] , the country had a population of approximately 6.42 million . El Salvador was for centuries inhabited by several Mesoamerican nations , especially the Cuzcatlecs , as well as the Lenca and Maya . In the early 16th century , the Spanish Empire conquered the territory , incorporating it into the Viceroyalty of New Spain ruled from Mexico City . However the Viceroyalty of Mexico had little or no influence in the daily affairs of the Central American isthmus , which would be colonized in 1524 . In 1609 the area became the Captaincy General of Guatemala , from which El Salvador was part of until its independence from Spain , which took place in 1821 , as part of the First Mexican Empire , then further seceded , as part of the Federal Republic of Central America , in 1823 . When the Republic dissolved in 1841 , El Salvador became a sovereign nation , then formed a short-lived union with Honduras and Nicaragua called the Greater Republic of Central America , which lasted from 1895 to 1898 . From the late 19th to the mid-20th century , El Salvador endured chronic political and economic instability characterized by coups , revolts , and a succession of authoritarian rulers . Persistent socioeconomic inequality and civil unrest culminated in the devastating Salvadoran Civil War ( 1979-1992 ) , which was fought between the military-led government and a coalition of left-wing guerrilla groups . The conflict ended with the Chapultepec Peace Accords .
San Salvador ( Holy Savior ) is the capital and the most populous city of El Salvador and its eponymous department . It is the country 's political , cultural , educational and financial center . The Metropolitan Area of San Salvador which comprises the capital itself and 13 of its municipalities has a population of 2,404,097 . As a beta global city , San Salvador is also an important financial hub of Central America . The city is home to the Concejo de Ministros de El Salvador ( Council of Ministries of El Salvador ) , La Asamblea Legislativa ( The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador ) , the Corte Suprema de Justicia ( The Supreme Court ) , and other governmental institutions , as well as the official residence of the president of the Republic . San Salvador is located in the Salvadoran highlands , surrounded by volcanoes and prone to earthquakes . The city is also home to the Catholic Archdiocese , as well as many Protestant branches of Christianity , including Evangelicals , Latter-day Saints , Baptists , and Pentecostals . San Salvador has the second largest Jewish community in Central America and a small Muslim community . San Salvador has been the host city for various regional and international sporting , political , and social events . It hosted the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1935 and 2002 , and the Central American Games in 1977 and 1994 , as well as the Miss Universe 1975 pageant . San Salvador was also the host city of the 18th Ibero-American Summit , held October 29-31 , 2008 , the most important sociopolitical event in the Spanish and Portuguese sphere . The Central American Integration System ( SICA ) has its headquarters in San Salvador .
Honduras ( /hɒnˈdjʊərəs , -ˈdʊər-/ ( listen ) , /-æs/ ; Spanish : [ onˈduɾas ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Honduras ( Spanish : República de Honduras ) , is a country in Central America . The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala , to the southwest by El Salvador , to the southeast by Nicaragua , to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca , and to the north by the Gulf of Honduras , a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea . Honduras was home to several important Mesoamerican cultures , most notably the Maya , before the Spanish Colonization in the sixteenth century . The Spanish introduced Roman Catholicism and the now predominant Spanish language , along with numerous customs that have blended with the indigenous culture . Honduras became independent in 1821 and has since been a republic , although it has consistently endured much social strife and political instability , and remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere . In 1960 , the northern part of what was the Mosquito Coast was transferred from Nicaragua to Honduras by the International Court of Justice . The nation 's economy is primarily agricultural , making it especially vulnerable to natural disasters such as Hurricane Mitch in 1998 . The lower class is primarily agriculturally based while wealth is concentrated in the country 's urban centers . Honduras has a Human Development Index of 0.625 , classifying it as a nation with medium development . When the Index is adjusted for income inequality , its Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index is 0.443 . Honduran society is predominantly Mestizo ; however , American Indian , black and white individuals also live in Honduras ( 2017 ) . The nation had a relatively high political stability until its 2009 coup and again with the 2017 presidential election .
Tegucigalpa ( UK : /tɛˌɡuːsɪˈɡælpə/ , US : /təˌ-/ , Spanish : [ teɣusiˈɣalpa ] ) , formally Tegucigalpa , Municipality of the Central District ( Spanish : Tegucigalpa , Municipio del Distrito Central or Tegucigalpa , M.D.C. ) , and colloquially referred to as Tegus or Teguz , is the capital and largest city of Honduras along with its twin sister , Comayagüela . Claimed on 29 September 1578 by the Spaniards , Tegucigalpa became the country 's capital on October 30 , 1880 , under President Marco Aurelio Soto , when he moved the capital from Comayagua . The current Constitution of Honduras , enacted in 1982 , names the sister cities of Tegucigalpa [ a ] and Comayagüela [ b ] as a Central District [ c ] to serve as the permanent national capital , under articles 8 and 295 . After the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1841 , Honduras became an individual sovereign nation with Comayagua as its capital . The capital was moved to Tegucigalpa in 1880 . On January 30 , 1937 , Article 179 of the 1936 Honduran Constitution was changed under Decree 53 to establish Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela as a Central District . Tegucigalpa is located in the southern-central highland region known as the department of Francisco Morazán of which it is also the departmental capital . It is situated in a valley , surrounded by mountains . Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela , being sister cities , are physically separated by the Choluteca River . The Central District is the largest of the 28 municipalities in the Francisco Morazán department . Tegucigalpa is Honduras ' largest and most populous city as well as the nation 's political and administrative center . Tegucigalpa is host to 25 foreign embassies and 16 consulates .
Nicaragua ( /ˌnɪkəˈrɑːɡwə , -ˈræɡ- , -ɡjuə/ ( listen ) ; Spanish : [ nikaˈɾaɣwa ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Nicaragua ( Spanish : República de Nicaragua ( help·info ) ) , is the largest country in the Central American isthmus , bordered by Honduras to the northwest , the Caribbean to the east , Costa Rica to the south , and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest . Managua is the country 's capital and largest city and is also the third-largest city in Central America , behind Tegucigalpa and Guatemala City . The multi-ethnic population of six million includes people of indigenous , European , African , and Asian heritage . The main language is Spanish . Indigenous tribes on the Mosquito Coast speak their own languages and English . Originally inhabited by various indigenous cultures since ancient times , the region was conquered by the Spanish Empire in the 16th century . Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in 1821 . The Mosquito Coast followed a different historical path , being colonized by the English in the 17th century and later coming under British rule . It became an autonomous territory of Nicaragua in 1860 and its northernmost part was transferred to Honduras in 1960 . Since its independence , Nicaragua has undergone periods of political unrest , dictatorship , occupation and fiscal crisis , including the Nicaraguan Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s and the Contra War of the 1980s . The mixture of cultural traditions has generated substantial diversity in folklore , cuisine , music , and literature , particularly the latter , given the literary contributions of Nicaraguan poets and writers such as Rubén Darío . Known as the land of lakes and volcanoes , Nicaragua is also home to the second-largest rainforest of the Americas .
Managua ( Spanish pronunciation : [ maˈnaɣwa ] ) is the capital and largest city of Nicaragua , and the center of an eponymous department . Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua and inside the Managua Department , it has an estimated population 1,042,641 in 2016 within the city 's administrative limits and a population of 1,401,687 in the metropolitan area , which additionally includes the municipalities of Ciudad Sandino , El Crucero , Nindirí , Ticuantepe and Tipitapa . The city was declared the national capital in 1852 . Previously , the capital alternated between the cities of León and Granada . The 1972 Nicaragua earthquake and years of civil war in the 1980s severely disrupted and stunted Managua 's growth . It was not until the mid-1990s that Managua began to see a resurgence . [ citation needed ] Managua 's population is composed predominantly of mestizos and whites who are mainly of Spanish descent , with a minority being of French , Jewish Nicaraguan , German Nicaraguan , Italian , Russian , Greek and Turkish descent . [ citation needed ]
Costa Rica ( /ˌkɒstə ˈriːkə/ , US : /ˌkoʊstə/ ( listen ) ; Spanish : [ ˈkosta ˈrika ] ; literally Rich Coast ) , officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish : República de Costa Rica ) , is a country in Central America , bordered by Nicaragua to the north , the Caribbean Sea to the northeast , Panama to the southeast , the Pacific Ocean to the southwest , and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island . It has a population of around 5 million in a land area of 51,060 square kilometers ( 19,714 square miles ) . An estimated 333,980 people live in the capital and largest city , San José , with around 2 million people in the surrounding metropolitan area . The sovereign state is a unitary presidential constitutional republic . It is known for its long-standing and stable democracy , and for its highly educated workforce , most of whom speak English . The country spends roughly 6.9% of its budget ( 2016 ) on education , compared to a global average of 4.4% . Its economy , once heavily dependent on agriculture , has diversified to include sectors such as finance , corporate services for foreign companies , pharmaceuticals , and ecotourism . Many foreign manufacturing and services companies operate in Costa Rica 's Free Trade Zones ( FTZ ) where they benefit from investment and tax incentives . Costa Rica was sparsely inhabited by indigenous peoples before coming under Spanish rule in the 16th century . It remained a peripheral colony of the empire until independence as part of the First Mexican Empire , followed by membership in the United Provinces of Central America , from which it formally declared independence in 1847 . Following the brief Costa Rican Civil War in 1948 , it permanently abolished its army in 1949 , becoming one of only a few sovereign nations without a standing army . The country has consistently performed favorably in the Human Development Index ( HDI ) , placing 63rd in the world as of 2017 [ update ] , among the highest of any Latin American nation .
San José ( Spanish : [ saŋ xoˈse ] ; literally meaning Saint Joseph ) is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica , and the capital of the province of the same name . It is located in the centre of the country , specifically in the mid-west of the Central Valley , and contained within San José Canton . San José is the seat of national government , the focal point of political and economic activity , and the major transportation hub of Costa Rica . The population of San José Canton was 288,054 in 2011 , and San Josés municipal land area measures 44.2 square kilometers ( 17.2 square miles ) , with an estimated 333,980 residents in 2015 . Together with several other cantons of the central valley including Alajuela , Heredia and Cartago it forms the Greater Metropolitan Area of the country , with an estimated population of over 2 million in 2017 . The city is named in honor of Joseph of Nazareth . Founded in 1736 by order of Cabildo de León , the population of San José rose during the 18th century through the use of colonial planning . It has historically been a city of strategic importance , having been the capital of Costa Rica three times . More than 1 million people pass through the city on a daily basis . It is home to the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica , the National Theatre of Costa Rica , and La Sabana Metropolitan Park . The Juan Santamaría International Airport serves the city . San José is notable among Latin American cities for its high quality of life , as well as for its security , level of globalization , environmental performance , public service , and recognized institutions .
Panama ( /ˈpænəmɑː/ ( listen ) PAN-ə-mah , /pænəˈmɑː/ pan-ə-MAH ; Spanish : Panamá IPA : [ panaˈma ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Panama ( Spanish : República de Panamá ) , is a transcontinental country in Central America and South America , bordered by Costa Rica to the west , Colombia to the southeast , the Caribbean Sea to the north , and the Pacific Ocean to the south . The capital and largest city is Panama City , whose metropolitan area is home to nearly half the country 's 4 million people . Panama was inhabited by indigenous tribes before Spanish colonists arrived in the 16th century . It broke away from Spain in 1821 and joined the Republic of Gran Colombia , a union of Nueva Granada , Ecuador , and Venezuela . After Gran Colombia dissolved in 1831 , Panama and Nueva Granada eventually became the Republic of Colombia . With the backing of the United States , Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 , allowing the construction of the Panama Canal to be completed by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914 . The 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties led to the transfer of the Canal from the United States to Panama on December 31 , 1999 . Revenue from canal tolls continues to represent a significant portion of Panama 's GDP , although commerce , banking , and tourism are major and growing sectors . It is regarded as a high-income country . In 2018 Panama ranked 66th in the world in terms of the Human Development Index . In 2018 , Panama was ranked seventh-most competitive economy in Latin America , according to the World Economic Forum 's Global Competitiveness Index . Covering around 40 percent of its land area , Panama 's jungles are home to an abundance of tropical plants and animals - some of them found nowhere else on earth .
Panama City ( Spanish : Ciudad de Panamá ; pronounced [ sjuˈða ( ð ) ðe panaˈma ] ) , also simply known as Panama , is the capital and largest city of Panama . It has an urban population of 880,691 , with over 1.5 million in its metropolitan area . The city is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal , in the province of Panama . The city is the political and administrative center of the country , as well as a hub for banking and commerce . The city of Panama was founded on August 15 , 1519 , by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias Dávila . The city was the starting point for expeditions that conquered the Inca Empire in Peru . It was a stopover point on one of the most important trade routes in the American continent , leading to the fairs of Nombre de Dios and Portobelo , through which passed most of the gold and silver that Spain took from the Americas . On January 28 , 1671 , the original city was destroyed by a fire when privateer Henry Morgan sacked and set fire to it . The city was formally reestablished two years later on January 21 , 1673 , on a peninsula located 8 km ( 5 miles ) from the original settlement . The site of the previously devastated city is still in ruins , and is now a popular tourist attraction , and is regularly visited by school trips .