About Honduras

Honduras Map & Honduras Vacation Information

Honduras is located in the north-central part of Central America, with a Caribbean as well as a smaller Pacific coastline. The country is bordered by Guatemala to the west, El Salvador to the south, and Nicaragua to the east.

The second-largest country in Central America, Honduras is mountainous with fertile plateaus, river valleys, and narrow coastal plains. Roatan and the Bay Islands lie off its Caribbean coast.

The Maya civilization was the dominant Honduras culture in the first millennium. Columbus explored the area in 1502. Honduras life changed in 1821 when, with four other Central American nations, it declared its independence from Spain. In 1838, Honduras left this federation and became independent. In 1982, a civilian government was elected and today Honduras is a democratic constitutional republic.

Honduras At a Glance

Capital:
Tegucigaipa

Languages:
Spanish, Amerindin dialects

Currency:
Lempiras (L)

Climate:
Subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Geography:
111,890 km², mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 86 30 W

Industries:
Sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products

Natural resources
Timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower.

Agriculture Products
Bananas, coffee, citrus, beef, timber, shrimp