Country Information on Honduras 

Terrain

Honduras has two coastlines, one of which extends over a length of 640 km along the Caribbean Sea; whereas the other is just 64 km long and extends along the Pacific coast. Honduras lies on the Central American plateau, which has fertile plains and mountain ranges with deep valleys. The mountains have volcanic origins and reach an altitude of 2,800 m. Most of the country's rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Among those that are navigable are the Ulúa, which drains about a third of the country, and the Coco, which forms part of the border with Nicaragua.

Climate

Honduras has a tropical climate which varies according to altitude inland. Here the average annual temperature is around 21.1°C. At the coast temperatures are higher and it is more humid with an average temperature of 26.7°C The dry season lasts from November until May; the rainy season lasts from May until October. However, rain falls throughout the year at the Caribbean coast. In November 1998 the country was badly hit by Hurricane Mitch.

Fauna/Flora

Oak and pine forests cover the cooler highlands; the lower parts of Honduras are covered with savannah grass and mangroves and palms are found in the coastal areas. Deforestation is occurring at a rate of 3000 km² a year. If it does not stop, it will result in the area turning into a desert within 20 years. Numerous animal species are found in Honduras, such as bears, deer, primates, wolves and coyotes Predatory cats such as jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and lynxes are also found in the country. An array of reptiles, birds, and marine creatures add to the diversity of Honduras's wildlife.

History/Politics

The west of Honduras was part of the Mayan Empire during the 1st century AD; the ruins of Copán are evidence of the highly developed Mayan culture. The culture was already declining when Columbus reached the shores of Honduras in 1502 on his fourth voyage. The conquest of Honduras began in 1524 and was marked by bitter fighting between the Spanish and the indigenous population. Afterwards, Honduras became part of the General Captaincy of Guatemala. The country was granted independence from Spain in 1821 and from Mexico in 1823, thus permitting it to join the Central American Federation. Between 1827 and 1829, the Honduran Francisco Morazán led the liberal troops to victory in a bloody civil war.

He went on to become president of the Federation and remained in office for ten years. Two years before it collapsed in 1840, Honduras declared its independence. From 1840 until the 1870s, the republic was ruled by conservative dictators. Dictators who were more liberal governed the country in the late 19th and the early 20th centuries. At the end of the 19th century, United Fruit Co. started business operations in Honduras by taking over vast areas of land for fruit production which led to interference in the country's basic political decisions. In 1924 the U.S. invaded Honduras and imposed a period of formal democratic rule. In 1957, the liberal Ramón Villeda Morales was elected by the constituent assembly. He took the country into the Central American Common Market (CACM) and introduced programmes which led towards agrarian reform and an improvement in the system of education.

In 1963, Villeda was ousted by military leaders, supported by a Honduran oligarchy that was alarmed by the triumph of Communism in Cuba. As a result of demographic tension caused by 300,000 Salvadorian immigrant farmers looking for work, armed conflict broke out between Honduras and El Salvador in 1969. The 1981 presidential elections were won by the candidate of the Liberal Party, Roberto Suazo Córdova. The military, however, still had considerable influence. In 1997 Honduras and El Salvador agreed to settle their border dispute which had lasted for several years, and to normalize their relations. Presidential elections took place in the same year, in which the liberal Carlos Roberto Flores Facusse, former president of parliament, won against his challenger, Nora de Melgar. Flores was succeeded by Ricardo Maduro in November 2001, who still holds the position today.

Economy

Agriculture is the most important branch of the economy of Honduras. The government, however, has plans to promote industrial production, to improve infrastructure, and to increase its hydroelectric reserves, as more than 80% of the electricity being consumed is produced there. Of the country's workforce (approx. 1.2 million) around 53% are employed in agriculture. Honduras possesses rich deposits of silver, zinc, and lead. Other minerals, which are often not mined, are iron ore, coal, copper, and antimony. Since the mid 1950s, the industrial sector has grown considerably. Cement, cotton, sugar, and wood products are exported. Textiles, chemical cleansing agents, light metals, and food products are mainly produced for the domestic market. The most important industrial areas are located around the capital, in the town of San Pedro Sula, and in the free port of Puerto Cortés. In 2003 the unemployment rate was 25.5% and inflation was 6.8%.

Culture

The harmony between indigenous and Spanish culture is reflected in Honduran architecture and many colonial buildings are evidence of great indigenous influence in combination with European styles. Apart from the architecture and a few indigenous villages in which the ancient language and customs remain, however, the culture of Honduras has been very much influenced by Spanish culture. The marimba is the most popular instrument and used by most bands. Indigenous folklore, folk music, and dances are not so widespread, as most artistic activities are centred on the College for Fine Arts in Comayagua, the former capital. Copán, a centre of the ancient Mayan Empire with uncovered temples and pyramids, is in the country's north-west. Various festivities take place throughout the year to honour the saints.