Honduras

Honduras | Honduras Map 

The area which consists of the Central American country of Honduras was once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World. The nation achieved independence in 1821. After a rule of military dispensation, civilian government came at the helm in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras gave shelter to the anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist regime of the border country of Nicaragua. The second largest country in Central America (after Nicaragua) bore the burnt of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, killing about 5,600 people and causing widespread destruction including $2 billion in damage.

Honduras is a multicultural society. The country has seen one of the largest women’s rights movement in history.

Travel Overview
Tourist attractions in Honduras include the cities of La Ceiba, Tegucigalpa,Trujillo, Comayagua, San Pedro Sula, and Copán. Trujillo is known for Spanish colonial architecture. Comayagua once served as the capital of Honduras. Copan’s claim to fame is its Mayan ruins, considered to be some of the best-preserved ruins around. Other attractions include La Ceiba Island and Lake Yojoa. The Pico Bonito National Park offers an ultimate destination for wildlife lovers. For fishing, diving, snorkelling and whitewater rafting head towards the picturesque Bay Islands, off the Caribbean coast.

With its prime location between the Caribbean and Pacific, Honduras is endowed with simply incredible natural, historical and cultural interest. A verdant land with mountainous, valleys, bays, extensive rainforest jungle, pristine beaches and islands, Honduras is home to some greatest colonial era architecture that makes it so compelling for the tourist.
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Location: Central America
Climate: subtropical and temperate
Total Area: 112,090 sq km
Total Population: 7,483,763
Population Growth Rate: 2.091%
Sex Ratio: 1.011 male(s)/female
Literacy: 80%
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo, Amerindian, black, white
Irrigated land: 800 sq km
Languages: Spanish and Amerindian dialects
Time Zone: UTC-6
Currency: Lempira
Neighbouring countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua
Type of govt.: democratic constitutional republic
Head of Govt.: President Manuel Zelaya Rosales
Major Political Parties: Christian Democratic Party or PDC, Democratic Unification Party or PUD, Liberal Party or PL, National Innovation and Unity Party or PINU, National Party of Honduras or PN
Participation in International Organizations: BCIE, G-77, FAO, CACM, IADB, ICAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICCt, IFAD, IFC, ICRM, IDA, IMF, ILO, IFRCS, IMO, Interpol, ISO IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, LAIA, NAM, MINURSO, OPANAL, PCA, OAS, OPCW, UN, UNESCO, RG, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, UNCTAD, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WCL, WTO and WMO
Major Agricultural Products: citrus, bananas, beef, coffee, timber; shrimp
Natural Resources & Minerals: gold, silver, copper, zinc, timber, iron ore, antimony, lead, fish, hydropower, coal.
Industry & Transport: sugar, textiles, clothing, coffee, wood products
Airports: 116
Railways: 699 km
Roadways:
13,603 km
Waterways: 465 km
Major Trade Partners: US, Guatemala, El Salvador
Exports: $1.947 billion
Imports: $4.86 billion