Honduras


'''Honduras''' is a country in northern Central America, bordered to the west by Guatemala and El Salvador, to the south by Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean and to the north by the Gulf of Honduras and the Caribbean Sea. Belize (formerly "British Honduras") is 75 km away across the Bay of Honduras.
República de Honduras
Flag of Honduras Coat of arms of Honduras
(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: none1
image:LocationHonduras.png
Official language Spanish
Capital Tegucigalpa
Capital's coordinates 14° 6′ N, 87° 13′ W
President Ricardo Maduro
Area
 - Total
 - % water 		Ranked 101st
  112,090 km²
  Negligible
Population
 - Total (2000)
 - Density 		96th
  6,249,598
  xxx/km²
Independence
 - Declared
 - Recognised 		(from Spain)
  15 September 1821
  1823
Currency Lempira
Time zone UTC -6
National anthem Tu bandera es un lampo de cielo
Internet TLD .hn
Calling Code 504
1 Although not an official motto is sanctioned, "NO PASARAN" or "They shall not pass" became popular during the 1969 war with El Salvador. This making allusion to the Salvadoran stated goal to reach the Honduran Caribbean coast during their offensive.

History

Main article: History of Honduras Part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became a state in the United Provinces of Central America in 1821, and became an independent republic at the demise of the union in 1840. The Football War of 1969 was fought with El Salvador. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Nicaraguan government and an ally to Salvadoran government forces fighting against leftist guerrillas. Hurricane Mitch devastated the country and wrecked its economy in 1998.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Honduras See also: List of Presidents of Honduras

Departments

Main article: Departments of Honduras Honduras is divided into 18 departments: See also: List of places in Honduras

Geography

Map of Honduras Main article: Geography of Honduras Honduras borders the Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean. The climate varies from subtropical in lowlands to temperate in mountains. Honduran terrain consists mainly of mountains, but there are narrow plains along the coasts. Natural resources include timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, and hydropower.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Honduras Honduras spent the year 1999 primarily recovering from Hurricane Mitch, which killed more than 5,000 people and caused about US$3 billion in damage. Although it is slated to receive about US$2.76 billion in international aid, the economy shrank 3% with widening current account and fiscal deficits in 1999. Nevertheless it met most of its macroeconomic targets. Honduras may also get relief from its US$4.4 billion external debt under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Honduras The population of Honduras is predominantly of Mestizo descent and Roman Catholic faith.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Honduras The patron saint of Honduras is the Virgin of Suyapa.

Miscellaneous topics

Note: Some of these articles are based on text from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the U.S. Department of State website.
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Countries in North America
Antigua and BarbudaBahamas > BarbadosBelize > CanadaCosta Rica > CubaDominica > Dominican RepublicEl Salvador > GrenadaGuatemala > HaitiHonduras > JamaicaMexico > NicaraguaPanama > Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Lucia > Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesTrinidad and Tobago > United States
Dependencies: AnguillaAruba > BermudaCayman Islands > GreenlandGuadeloupe > MartiniqueMontserrat > Navassa IslandNetherlands Antilles > Puerto RicoSaint-Pierre and Miquelon > Turks and Caicos IslandsU.S. Virgin Islands > British Virgin Islands

Logo of the OAS Organization of American States (OAS)
Antigua and BarbudaArgentina > BahamasBarbados > BelizeBolivia > BrazilCanada > ChileColombia > Costa RicaCuba > DominicaDominican Republic > EcuadorEl Salvador > GrenadaGuatemala > GuyanaHaiti > HondurasJamaica > MexicoNicaragua > PanamaParaguay > PeruSaint Lucia > Saint Vincent and the Grenadines SurinameTrinidad and Tobago > United StatesUruguay > Venezuela
Category:Central American countries Category:Honduras ar:هندوراس bg:Хондурас ca:Hondures da:Honduras de:Honduras et:Honduras es:Honduras eo:Honduro fr:Honduras gl:Honduras id:Honduras it:Honduras he:הונדורס lv:Hondurasa lt:Hondūras ms:Honduras nl:Honduras ja:ホンジュラス no:Honduras nds:Honduras pl:Honduras pt:Honduras ru:Гондурас sk:Honduras sl:Honduras fi:Honduras sv:Honduras zh:洪都拉斯

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