Honduras

Capital City - Tegucigalpa
Currency - Honduran Lempira
Population - 7,810,848 (as of August 2009)
National Language - Spanish
Religion - 97% are reportedly Catholic
Type of Government - Constitutional Republic
Leaders - Roberto Micheletti (Interim President); Porfirio Lobo Sosa (President-elect)
Country's Motto - "Libre, Soberana e Independiente" ("Free, Sovereign and Independent")

Geographical Highlights - Honduras is the second largest country in Central America. It is bordered to the west by Guatamala, to the southwest by El Salvador and to the southeast by Nicaragua. Additionally, it has two coast-lines (to the north it borders the Gulf of Honduras which is an inlet of the Caribbean Sea; to the south it borders the Pacific Ocean by way of the Gulf of Fonseca). In the northern part of the country, banana plantations thrive. To the east, the land is famously referred to as the Mosquito Coast. Pine forests cover about 75% of the country.


History - The Mayan civilization thrived in Honduras, particularly in the city of Copan, from 150 to 900 A.D. The Rtyu Kingdon flourished at least from the fifth to ninth centuries.  Mayan civilization began to decline by 900 A.D., though there are signs that people lived in the city of Copan until at least 1200 A.D.  By the time the Spanish arrived in the late 15th century, however, Copan had already become overrun by jungle and the Mayan Ch'orti' people were dominated by the non-Mayan Lencas.

In 1502, on his fourth and final voyage, Christopher Columbus reached the Bay Islands on the coast of Honduras and landed near Trujillo (which was to become the first capital city). The Spanish set up colonies and found a lucrative endeavor mining silver in the area.  Honduras was taken as part of the vast Spanish Empire and remained as such for over three centuries.  The country was not free from Spanish rule until 1821.  It would take two more years to gain its independance from Mexico; and, would not be completely free from the rule of the Republic of Central America until 1838.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, in 1941, Honduras took the side of the Allied Nations.  The Honduran government was one of twenty-five to sign the Declaration by the United Nations in 1942.  In more recent times, Honduras has faced conflict with El Salvador, several hurricanes, a flood which devastated most of the country and a constitutional crisis in which leadership still remains unresolved.

Landmarks -

• Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve - A world heritage site known for its rainforest with diverse life forms.
• The Mayan ruins in Copan - A Pre-Columbian city in Western Honduras.
• The Bay Islands - The final point of landing for Columbus in the New World.

Interesting Trivia -

• The word "Honduras" means depths in Spanish.  The quote "Gracias a Dios que hemos salido de esas Honduras" (English: "Thank God we have come out of those depths") has been commonly attributed to Christopher Columbus's thoughts about the country while navigating along the northeastern coast.  
• The country was formerly known as "Spanish Honduras" to differentiate it from Belize (which was previously known as "British Honduras").
• Currently, Honduras is the most impoverished of all Central American nations.

Music - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_iPB7qgCiM