Honduras
Honduras, officially the
Republic of Honduras, is a country in
Central America, bordered to the northwest by
Guatemala, to the southwest by
El Salvador, to the southeast by
Nicaragua, to the south by the
Pacific Ocean, to the north by the
Gulf of Honduras and the
Caribbean Sea, with
Belize (formerly British Honduras) situated 50
miles (75
km) away, across the Gulf of Honduras.
Main articles:History of Honduras,Timeline of Honduran historyThe Pre-Colombian city of
Copán is a locale in extreme western Honduras, in the Copán near the Guatemalan border. It is the site of a major Maya civilization. The same Maya kingdom of the Classic era. The ancient kingdom, named
Xukpi flourished from the 5th century AD to the early 9th century, with antecedents going back to at least the 2nd century AD. The Maya civilization decayed, and by the time the Spanish came to Honduras, the once great city-state of Copán was overrun by the jungle.
On his fourth and final voyage to the New World,
Christopher Columbus reached the coast of Honduras in 1502. After the Spanish discovery, Honduras became part of Spain's vast empire in the New World within the Kingdom of Guatemala. The Spanish ruled Honduras for approximately three centuries.
Honduras declared independence from Spain the 15th of September 1821 with the rest of the Central America provinces, in 1822 the Central American State anexed to the newly declared Mexican Empire of
Iturbide. The Iturbide Empire was overthown in 1823 and Central America separated from it forming The federation of the United Provinces which disintegrated in 1838. The states of the United Provinces became independent nations.
The so-called
Soccer War of 1969 was fought with El Salvador. There had always been border tension between the two countries after
Oswaldo López Arellano, past president of Honduras, blamed the poor economy on the large number of immigrants from El Salvador. From that point on the relationship between El Salvador and Honduras had been a soured one. It peaked when El Salvador met Honduras for a 3-round football elimination match as a preliminary to the World Cup. Tensions escalated and on July 14, 1969, the Salvadoran army launched an attack against Honduras. The Organization of American States negotiated a cease-fire which took effect on July 20, with the Salvadoran troops withdrawn in early August. The war lasted approximately 100 hours and led to an arms race between the two countries.
During the 1980s, the United States established a military presence in Honduras with the purpose of supporting the anti-Sandinista
Contras fighting the Nicaraguan government and to support the El Salvador military fighting against the
FMLN guerrillas. Though spared the bloody civil wars wracking its neighbors, the Honduran army quietly waged a campaign against leftists.
Hurricane Fifí caused severe damage while skimming the northern coast of Honduras on September 18 and 19, 1974. Many years later,
Hurricane Mitch devastated the country and wrecked its
economic system in 1998.
A Presidential and general election was held on
November 27,
2005.
Manuel Zelaya of the
Liberal Party of Honduras (Partido Liberal de Honduras: PLH) won, with
Porfirio Pepe Lobo of the
National Party of Honduras (Partido Nacional de Honduras: PNH) coming in second. The PNH challenged the election results, and Lobo Sosa did not concede until December 7. Towards the end of December the government finally released the total ballot count, giving Zelaya the official victory. Zelaya was inaugurated as Honduras' new president on
January 27,
2006.
Honduras has five registered political parties: PNH, PLH, Social Democrats (Partido Innovación Nacional y Social Demócrata: PINU-SD), Social Christians (Partido Demócrata-Cristiano: DC), and Democrat Unification (Partido Unificación Democrática: UD). The PNH and PLH have ruled the country for decades. In the last years, Honduras has had five Liberal presidents:
Roberto Suazo Córdova,
José Azcona del Hoyo,
Carlos Roberto Reina,
Carlos Roberto Flores and
Manuel Zelaya, and two Nationalists:
Rafael Leonardo Callejas Romero and
Ricardo Maduro. The elections have been full of controversies, including questions about whether Azcona was born in Honduras or Spain, and whether Maduro should have been able to stand given he was born in
Panama.
Roberto Suazo Cordoba ruled the country during the so called "Lost Decade" when hundreds of human rights violations were committed, and alleged political crimes were commonplace. In 1986, Azcona del Hoyo was elected via the "Formula B," when Azcona did not obtain the majority of votes. However, 5 Liberal candidates and 4 Nationalist were running for president at that time, and the "Formula B" required all votes from all candidates from the same party to be added together. Azcona then became the president. In 1990, Callejas won the election under the slogan "Llegó el momento del Cambio," (The time for Change has arrived), which was heavily criticized for resembling El Salvador's "ARENAs" political campaign. Callejas Romero gained a reputation for illicit enrichment. Callejas has been the subject of several scandals and accusations in the last two decades. In 1998, during Flores Facusse's mandate, Hurricane Mitch hit the country and all indications of economic growth were washed out in a period of 5 days.
In 2004 separate ballots were used for mayors, congress, and president. Many more candidates were registered for the 2005 election.
The Nationalist and Liberal parties are distinct political parties with their own dedicated band of supporters, but some have pointed out that their interests and policy measures throughout the 23 years of uninterrupted democracy have been very similar. They are often seen as primarily serving the interests of their own members, who receive jobs when their party gains power and lose them again when the other party does so. Both are seen as supportive of the elite who owns most of the wealth in the country, with neither of them promoting socialist ideals, even though in many ways Honduras is run like a democratic version of an old socialist state, with price controls and nationalized electric and land-line telephone services.
However, President Maduro's administration "de-nationalized" the telecommunications sector in a move to promote the rapid diffusion of telecom services to the Honduran population. As of November 2005, there were around 10 private-sector telecom companies in the Honduran market, including two mobile phone companies.
Main articles: Departments of Honduras, Municipalities of HondurasThe largest department by surface area is
Olancho department and by population is
Francisco Morazán department, where the capital city of Tegucigalpa is located, and the smallest by both surface area and population is the
Islas de la Bahía department.
Honduras borders the
Caribbean Sea on the north coast and the
Pacific Ocean on the south through the Gulf of Fonseca. The
climate varies from
tropical in the
lowlands to
temperate in the mountains. The central and southern regions are relatively hotter and less humid than the northern coast.
The Honduran territory consists mainly of mountains (~81%), but there are narrow plains along the coasts, a large undeveloped lowland jungle
La Mosquitia region in the northeast and the heavily populated lowland
San Pedro Sula valley in the northwest. In La Mosquitia lies the
UNESCO-world heritage site
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, with the
Coco River dividing the country from
Nicaragua. See
Rivers of Honduras.
Natural resources include
timber,
gold,
silver,
copper,
lead,
zinc,
iron ore,
antimony,
coal,
fish,
shrimp, and
hydropower.
*
Cabo Gracias a DiosMain article: Economy of Honduras
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Americas, with GDP per capita at
US$2050 per year (1999).The economy has continued to grow slowly but the distribution of wealth remains very polarized with average wages remaining very low. Economic growth is roughly 5% a year, but many people remain below the poverty line. It is estimated that there are more than 1.2 million people who are
unemployed. The rate of unemployment is 28%
The
World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund classified Honduras as one of the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries eligible for
debt relief, and this debt relief was given in
2005.
Both the electricity services (ENEE) and land line telephone services (HONDUTEL) were run by government monopolies, with the ENEE receiving heavy subsidies from the government because of its chronic financial problems. HONDUTEL however is no longer a monopoly, the telecomunication sector having been opened after
December 25,
2005; this was one of the requirements before approving the beginning of
CAFTA. There are price controls around the price of
petrol, and other temporary price controls of basic commodities are often passed for short periods by the
Congress.
After years of declining against the US dollar the
Lempira has stabilized at around 19 Lempiras per dollar.
In 2005 Honduras signed the
CAFTA (Free Trade Agreement with
USA) and in December 2005,
Puerto Cortes its main major seaport was included in the U.S.
Container Security Initiative.
Main article: Demographics of Honduras
The population of Honduras is predominantly of
Mestizo descent and
Roman Catholic faith, but there are also several
Evangelical denominations. Along the northern coast are communities of English speakers who have maintained a separate culture, as some islands and sections along the Caribbean coast were occupied by pirates and by the British at one time or another. This includes Roatan, a former British slave colony island to the North of La Ceiba. Groups of
Garífuna live along the north coast and islands, where there are also many
Afro-Latin Americans. In the 20th century, Garífunas became part of Honduras' projected identity through theatrical presentations such as
Louvavagu, in order to help boost
tourism.
Asians in Honduras are mostly of
Chinese and
Japanese descent. Hundreds of families can find their roots in the Middle East, specifically
Lebanon or
Palestine. These Arab-Hondurans are sometimes called "turcos", because they arrived in Honduras using Turkish travel documents, as their homelands were then under the control of the Turkish
Ottoman Empire. The so-called "turcos", along with the Jewish minority population, exert considerable influence on Honduran economics and politics through large industrial and financial interests . Many other Hondurans have connections to
Spain, the
United States (especially
New Orleans,
Florida and
California) and the
Cayman Islands.
In spite of the tide of immigrants, the
indigenous peoples of Honduras cling to survival throughout the country. Tribes like the Chortí (Mayan descent), Pech or Paya, Tolupan or Xicaque, Lenca, Sumo or Tawahka, and Miskito still exist, and most still keep their language, Lenca being an exception. For the most part, these tribes live in extreme poverty due to their remote locations and, some say, governmental negligence.
Interestingly, there is a distinct shibboleth through Honduras that separates major ethnic groups from others. Honduras is not only located in the heart of Central America, it also straddles two major cultural areas. Thus, there is the Mesoamerican area to the west, where the Lenca and Maya Chorti tribes reside. Both groups belong to the same linguistical family as the Olmec, Aztecs and the extinct Maya. The other zone is the "Area Intermedia", a dissimilar assemblage of tribes like Pech, Tawahka, Miskito, and Tolupan in Honduras, as well as the Yanomami indigenous people of South America, to name one.
The
Garífuna are the newest ethnic addition to the country. Unlike other people from African descent who came to the Americas, these were never slaves. Related in culture to other
Caribbean people of African descent such as those in
Jamaica, the Garífuna primarily live on the Caribbean shore and in the
Bay Islands such as
Roatán.
Main article: Culture of Honduras
The patron saint of Honduras is the
Virgin of Suyapa.
A Honduran can be called a
Catracho or
Catracha (fem) in Spanish. The word is derived from the last name of Honduran General
Florencio Xatruch, who led Honduran armed forces in defense of Honduran territories in
1857 against an attempted invasion led by North American filibuster
William Walker. The nickname is considered complimentary, not derogatory.
One of Honduras' best known writers is
Ramón Amaya Amador. Other writers include
Roberto Sosa,
Eduardo Bähr,
Amanda Castro,
Javier Abril Espinoza, and
Roberto Quesada.
"scar Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga is a
Cardinal who was a potential
candidate for
Pope in the
Papal conclave, 2005.
Not as famous as the cardinal, but also noteworthy, and in a different field, is
Salvador Moncada, a world-renowned scientist with authorship of more than 12 highly cited papers, including his work on
nitric oxide. His research on heart-related drugs includes the development of Viagra. Moncada works at the
University College of London and funds an NGO in Tegucigalpa. He is married to
Princess Maria-Esmeralda of Belgium.
Honduras This Week is a weekly
English language newspaper that has been
published now for 17 years in Tegucigalpa. On the islands of Roatan, Utila and Guanaja the
Bay Islands Voice is a source of monthly news since 2003.
Folklore
Honduras is a country full of
Folklore. One of the most popular examples of this is the
Lluvia de Peces (Rain of Fishes).
Honduras is part of
Mesoamerica, which is the landmass that extends from Mexico to Costa Rica. The region is considered as a
biodiversity hotspot due to the numerous plant and animal species that can be found. Like the other countries in the region, Honduras contains vast biological resources. This 43,278
square mile (112,092 km²) country hosts more than 6,000 species of
vascular plants, of which 630 -described so far- are Orchids; around 250 reptiles and amphibians, more than 700 bird species, and 110 mammal species, half of them being bats.
In the northeastern region of
La Mosquitia lies the
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, a lowland rainforest which provides home to a great diversity of life. Sometimes called "The Last Lungs of Central America", this Reserve was added to the
UNESCO World Heritage Sites List in 1982.
Besides lush rain forests, untouched
cloud forests (which can rise up to nearly three thousand meters above sea level),
mangroves,
savannas and mountain ranges ladden with pine and oak trees, Honduras harbours yet another priceless ecosystem: The
Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. In the
Bay Islands it is no coincidence to swim with
bottlenose dolphins,
manta rays,
parrot fish, schools of
blue tang and even the colossal
Whale shark. The white sands, tall coconut palms and the easy going
caribbean atmosphere provide refuge from the busy Central American cities, or across the Atlantic Ocean.
Soccer is the most popular sport in Honduras. Some information on teams, competitions and players is available in the following articles.
Soccer Federation
*
Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de HondurasTeams
*
Honduras national football team*
Olimpia*
Motagua*
Marathón*
Real España*
Hispano*
Platense*
Universidad NAH*
Victoria*
Vida*
Atletico OlanchanoCompetitions
*
Liga Nacional de Honduras*
Liga de Ascenso Honduras*
Liga Mayor de Futbol de Honduras*
Supercopa Honduras*
Torneo de Copa HondurasPlayers
*
Amado Guevara*
Iván Guerrero*
David Suazo*
Milton Reyes*
Edgar Álvarez*
Víctor Coello*
Samuel Caballero*
Ramón Núñez*
Carlos Pavón*
Alex Pineda Chacón*
Francisco Ramirez*
Danilo Turcios*
Milton Núñez*
Julio César de LeónVenues
*
Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino*
Estadio Francisco Morazan*
Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano*
Estadio Exelsior*
Estadio Fausto Flores Lagos*
Estadio Hispano*
Estadio Nilmo Edwards*
Communications in Honduras*
Elections in Honduras*
Foreign relations of Honduras*
Flag of Honduras*
Garífunas*
Garifuna music*
Honduran lempira *
Liberalism in Honduras*
List of Honduras-related topics*
List of schools in Honduras*
List of political parties in Honduras*
Mara Salvatrucha*
Military of Honduras*
Music of Honduras*
Project Honduras*
Transportation in Honduras*
Rail transport in Honduras*
Asociación de Scouts de Honduras*Honduras boasts America's oldest clock ever.
*Honduran Cuisine uses a lot of coconut, in both sweet and savory foods, even in soups.
*
Pupusas, though Salvadoran, are also a part of Honduran Cuisine.
*The country once had a communist rebellion, which, like El Salvador, transformed itself into a political party.
*Honduras is considered one of the most violent countries in Central America, which at one point reached 154 murders per every 100,000 inhabitants, compared to the USA which has 4.8 murders per 100,000.(http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean/democracy/gangs_assessment.pdf)
*Honduras only has one lake in the entire country.
*
Adventures in Nature: Honduras James D. Gollin
*
Don't Be Afraid, Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks From The Heart : The Story of Elvia Alvarado Medea Benjamin
*
Honduras: The Making of a Banana Republic Alison Acker
*
Honduras: State for Sale Richard Lapper, James Painter
*
Inside Honduras Kent Norsworthy and Tom Berry
*
La Mosquitia: A Guide to the Savannas, Rain Forest and Turtle Hunters Derek Parent
*
Moon Handbooks: Honduras Christopher Humphrey
*
Reinterpreting the Banana Republic: Region and State in Honduras, 1870-1972 Dario A. Euraque
*
Seven Names for the Bellbird: Conservation Geography in Honduras Mark Bonta
*
Ulysses Travel Guide: Honduras Eric Hamovitch
*
The United States in Honduras, 1980-1981: An Ambassador's Memoir Jack R. Binns
*
The War of the Dispossessed: Honduras and El Salvador, 1969 Thomas P. Anderson
*
Information about Honduran Wildlife*
Country Data*
Interactive Maps of Honduras*
Encyclopaedia Britannica - Country page of Honduras*
Map National Parks of Honduras*
Distance Calculator between cities of Honduras*
Honduras News*
Honduras This Week Wikipedia article is
Honduras This Week*
Honduras News- an English language news magazine
*
Project Honduras *
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding Honduras
