HONDURAS: COUNTRY PROFILE AND MAP

GEOGRAPHY

Honduras is in Central America, and comprises an area of 112,492 sq km (42,000 sq miles). The highest point reaches 2,400 m. Honduras shares borders in the southeast with Nicaragua, and in the west with El Salvador and Guatemala. To the north is the Caribbean sea and a coastline 880 km in length. The south coast in the Gulf of Fonseca (Pacific ocean) is 153 km in length.

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CLIMATE

Average temperature: Summer-High/Low 86/59 degrees F. Winter-84/56 degrees F.
Average humidity: Summer-65 Winter-70
Average rainfall: 1,800 mm.
Approx sunrise-Summer 0500. Winter 0530.
Approx sunset-Summer 1800. Winter 1730.

HISTORY

Christopher Columbus discovered Honduras in 1502, on his fourth voyage to the New World. At the time of the discovery, Honduran territory was inhabited by ethnic groups splintered from the Maya culture, as well as tribes of Chortis, Xicaques, Lencas, Payas and others. Officially the conquest of Honduras began May 3, 1624, with the arrival of Cristobal de Olid, at El Triunfo de la Cruz, leading the expedition in the name of the Spanish King and under the orders of Francisco de las Casas. On July 1, 1823, the provinces of America declared themselves free and independent of Spain and Mexico, thereby proclaiming their sovereignty.

LANGUAGE

Spanish. English is most widely used as a second language.

POPULATION

Approx. 5.6 million.

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