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Honduras

Introduction

Honduras is situated in Central America surrounded by tropical mountains with Guatemala to the west and Nicaragua in the east. It has a population of around 8 million and its capital city is Tegucigalpa. In the north it borders the Caribbean Sea with fantastic beaches and attractive climate. The Bay Islands are protected by the second largest coral reef in the world. In the south it is bordered by El Salvador and the Pacific.

Honduras se encuentra en América Central, rodeado de montañas tropicales con Guatemala al oeste y al este de Nicaragua. Tiene una población de aproximadamente 8 millones y su capital es Tegucigalpa. Al norte limita con el mar Caribe con fantásticas playas y clima atractivo. Las islas de la Bahía están protegidas por el segundo arrecife más grande del mundo. En el sur limita con El Salvador y el Pacífico.

Geography The three major regions of the country are the two coastal lowlands in the north and south enclosing the mountainous interior highlands which make up 80% of the land area. These mountains are highest in the west bordering Guatemala with peaks reaching 2800 metres. In the central area there are many highland valleys at around 500 metres which provide better agriculture than the slopes of the mountains. There are also towns and cities nestling in these relatively fertile areas, including the capital Tegucigalpa. In the east the mountains merge into Nicaragua but are poor soil and used mainly for livestock		Las tres regiones principales del país son las dos tierras costeras bajas en el norte y el sur que encierra el altiplano interior montañoso que conforman el 80% de la superficie de la tierra. Estas montañas son más elevadas en el oeste limita con Guatemala con picos que alcanzan 2800 metros. En la zona central hay muchos valles de montaña a unos 500 metros que proporcionan mejor agricultura que las laderas de las montañas. También hay pueblos y ciudades en estas zonas relativamente fértil, incluyendo la capital Tegucigalpa. En el este las montañas se combinan en Nicaragua, pero son el suelo pobre y se utiliza principalmente para el ganado.
Economy Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America with a GDP of $4k per capita compared with an average of $12k. Unemployment is very high at near to 30% and high inflation is also an issue. The main problem is the paucity of natural resources and a small internal market. Agriculture is difficult except in the limited fertile lowlands, but is still the major sector at 23%. Coffee is the main export now accounting for about 20% although bananas have recovered significantly since the destruction of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Manufacturing is still very limited and only in the more basic technologies and industries.		Honduras es uno de los países más pobres en América Latina con un PIB de $4 mil per cápita en comparación con un promedio de $12k. El desempleo es muy alto en cerca de 30% y una inflación elevada también es un tema. El principal problema es la escasez de recursos naturales y un mercado interno pequeño. Agricultura es difícil excepto en las Vegas limitadas, pero sigue siendo el principal sector en 23 %. El café es el principal producto de exportación que ahora son responsables de aproximadamente el 20% aunque plátanos han recuperado significativamente desde la destrucción del huracán Mitch en 1998. Fabricación es todavía muy limitado y sólo en las industrias y tecnologías más básicas.
Government Despite its natural beauty, the country is still well under-developed due to historically poor government, corruption, crime and natural disasters. There is massive economic inequality and widespread poverty and disease. The authorities have a continuous battle against young drug gangs who offer quick wealth from dealing to the large number of addicts. In 1998 the country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch which killed 5000 people and wiped out 70% of all crops. It still has not fully recovered from this disaster.		A pesar de su belleza natural, el país es tambien muy subdesarrollado debido al gobierno históricamente pobre, la corrupción, delito y desastres naturales. Hay desigualdad económica masiva y pobreza extendida y enfermedad. Las autoridades tienen una lucha continua contra jóvenes narcotraficantes quienes ofrecen riqueza rápida de tratar al gran número de adicto. En 1998 el país fue devastado por el huracán Mitch que mató a 5.000 personas y acabó con el 70% de todos los cultivos. Todavía no se ha repuesto totalmente de este desastre.
Tegucigalpa Tegucigalpa together with the city of Comayaguela is the joint capital of Honduras. The population is about 1.25 million and so is the country`s largest city and political centre and home to many of the important major companies, cultural and sporting organisations. Situated at 1000m in the southern region of the central highlands, its airport is infamous for it tortuous access. The roads infrastructure is also a major problem, having not kept pace with the growth in vehicle usage in the capital. Poor urban planning and congestion are a daily toil for most citizens. It is a government priority to try to address these issues, but they struggle on limited resources. When Hurricane Mitch struck in 1998, the river Choluteca burst its banks and the floods badly damaged many districts. They are still being repaired. However there still remain some charming old colonial buildings reminiscent of bygone eras. The pleasant climate is a redeeming feature of the city, and its tourist industry is beginning to grow

10 Other interesting facts about Honduras

1. Mayan civilization was pre-eminent in Honduras in the centuries before the arrival of Columbus in 1502.

2. Following independence from Spain in 1821 and from Mexico in 1822, Honduras joined the United Provinces of Central America. In 1839, it became totally independent.

3. Undergraduate education is only reached by about 5% of the population.

4. There is no state religion in Honduras, however the Roman Catholic church gets well represented in public life.

5. Honduran music has a folk style with a Spanish beat using guitars and marimbas and is played during traditional Honduran celebrations.

6. Soccer is the main sport in Honduras.

7. Popular in the basic diet is rice, beans, tamales and corn. Beef soup and chicken stock soup are also common.

8. 20% of the population are still illiterate.

10. Honduras is the second largest country in central America.