República+de+Honduras

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=República de Honduras =

Fast Facts
Formal Name: Republic of Honduras Area: 112,492 km2 Location: bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, and to the north by the Gulf of Honduras, a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea. Capital: Tegucigalpa. Independence Day: 15 September 1821 Population: 7,833,696 Major religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant languages: Spanish. Literacy rate: 56%~60%. Type of Government: Democratic Constitutional Republic Government Leader: Porfirio Lobo (2010) Imports: $7.788 billion (2009 est.) machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs Exports: $5.196 billion (2009 est.) apparel, coffee, shrimp, wire harnessing, cigars, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber GDP: $14.27 billion (2009 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -2.1% (2009 est.) Population below poverty line: 59% (2008)

Geographic Loca﻿tion
Honduras is bordered in South America, to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, and to the north by the Gulf of Honduras, a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea. Located in subtropical zone with a lone coastline, Honduras enjoys the brilliant sunshine all year around and gains the beautiful benches as well as the bay islands from mother nature.
 * ** Political Map ** ||
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 * ** Geographic Map ** ||
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Brief History
Before the Spanish landed, Honduras was inhabited by several native tribes who once established great civilizations, including the most well-known Mayan civilizations. After 1539 come Honduras became a Spanish colony until 1821 when it gained its independence. In the following years Honduras struggled in its effort to become an independent democratic country, and currently it is a modern democratic constitutional republic.

History Timeline
Contras.
 * Before 1502 AD** - Honduras was inhabited by indigenous tribes of a great linguistic and cultural diversity, especially Mayans
 * 1502** - Christopher Columbus lands in Honduras.
 * 1525** - Spain begins conquest of Honduras
 * 1539** - Spain succeeds in the conquest of Honduras after bitter struggles with the native population
 * 1800**'s - Northern coast falls to British buccaneers
 * Until 1860** - British protectorate established over the coast until 1860 while the Spanish concentrate on the inland area.
 * 1821** - Honduras gains independence from Spain, but became a part of the Mexican empire
 * 1823** - Honduras breaks away from Mexico
 * 1823** - Honduras joins the United Provinces of Central America, which also include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
 * 1840** - Honduras becomes fully independent.
 * Late 19th-early 20th century** - US becomes economically involved in Honduras, with the United Fruit Company controlling two-thirds of banana exports by 1913.
 * 1932-49** - Honduras under right-wing National Party of Honduras (PNH) dictatorship led by General Tiburcio Carias Andino.
 * 1963** - Colonel Osvaldo Lopez Arellano takes power after leading a coup.
 * 1969** - Brief but costly war with El Salvador over heavy immigration and disputed border.
 * 1974** - Lopez resigns after allegedly accepting a bribe from a US company.
 * 1980** - General Paz signs peace treaty with El Salvador.
 * 1981-1984** - Roberto Suazo Cordova of PLH is elected president, leading the first civilian government in more than a century, fighting with US-backed
 * 1987-1990** - Human rights abuses occurred in Honduras.
 * 1990 January** - Rafael Callejas sworn in as president; proceeds to introduce neo-liberal economic reforms and austerity measures.
 * 1992** - International Court of Justice gives ruling establishing new boundaries between Honduras and El Salvador.
 * 1993-1999** - Carlos Reina, Carlos Flores elected president, pledging to reform judicial system, limit and restructure armed forces.
 * 2001** - More than 1,000 street children were murdered in Honduras by death squads backed by the police, drawing UN's attention.
 * 2002 January** - Honduras re-establishes diplomatic ties with Cuba.
 * 2007 May** - President Zelaya orders all the country's radio and TV stations to carry government propaganda for two hours a day for 10 days.
 * 2009** - President Manuel Zelaya is forced into exile.
 * 2010 January** - Porfirio Lobo is sworn in as president, ousted President Manuel Zelaya goes into exile in the Dominican Republic.

Civil Life
Honduras celebrates traditional western holidays as well as its own cultural holidays. Christmas Day is a great day for Hondurans, and Markets in Hondras start to make decorations and pre-Christmas sales from the first week of November. During Christmas, people in Honduras eat rompopo base, another version of eggnog and fruitcake, and also turkeys, pork legs and pork roasts. For fruits and vegetables, they have watermelons, canteloupes, pineapple, strawberries, blackberries, and papaya. Christmas lights are important for the celebration of Christmas, and they also have fireworks. Honduras has a special tradition called the posada. At that time, Hondurans hold a celebration every night from December 16th. They call the time between December 25 and January 6 Yancunú. They sing and dance, wearing masks to bring good fortune in the new year. On January 15, they celebrate the dark-skinned wooden sculpture of Jesus in Esquipulas. They have feast day of the Virgin of Suyapa on Febuary 2nd. They use tiny wooden image of her to get powers.

National Holidays
 **01/01** New Year's Day  **04/01** Maundy Thursday  **04/10-12** Easter Holiday  **04/14** Day of the Americas  **05/01** Labour Day  **09/15** Independence Day  **10/03** Soldiers' Day  **10/12** Columbus/Americas Day  **10/21** Armed Forces' Day  **12/25** Christmas Day

Famous People
 **José Cecilio del Valle (1780 - 18** **34): Philosopher, Politician, Lawyer, and Journalist** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nicknamed as 'The Wise', Valle was one of the most renown and important Central American figure during the transition from colonial government to independence. His contribution to the Latin America includes gaining Guatemala´s independence by writing the act of independence of Central America, preventing the death of people who had carried out high charges in the past government. During 1830-1831 he was the president of Honduras. Once he retired from politics he delved into writing, and then left for his heavenly abode in 1834.

<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> **Froilán Turcios (1875 - 1943): Novelist and Writer**

<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This famous Honduran writer is considered to be one of the most important Honduran intellectuals belonging to the early twentieth century. He also was a famous journalist and leading politician of those times. Since he opposed the American involvement in Honduras, most of this literary works are violent stories with strong plots.

<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> **Roberto Sosa: The Poet**

<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Considered to be the national poet of Honduras and one of the best poets in Central America, Roberto Sosa was born on April 18, 1930 in Yoro, Honduras. Roberto published his first book when he was almost 30 years old. In his exceptional literary production, poems always burst forth with abundant energy, often at the same pace as the atrocities committed by abusive dictatorships spawned by the shadow-side of capitalism. His works are a response to poverty, injustice, and the global inequalities that create divisions among us. <span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">

Tegucigalpa, The Capital
<span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, Honduras' most popular city, is located in the southern part of Honduras, in Francisco Morazán province. Tegucigalpa features a historical downtown area, a few good museums, and a variety of restaurants, making the best choice as your first stop in Honduras.

Copán Ruinas
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Located in western Honduras, Copán ruinas is the most famous Maya site in Honduras, and the most sinificant ruins of Mayan civilization. There're many historial constructions of Mayan culture remained in the site, not only beautiful and good for photography, but also educational. It's also good for getting to know more about 2012. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> There're many buses to Copán in very cheap price. There're a lot of hotels avilable in Copán in a quite good price. You can also choose a tour package. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> More Information:
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 * [|Copan Ruinas Honduras] ||

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> []

Roatán
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Roatan is the largest and most popular island of the 3 beautiful bay islands of Honduras. It has pretty reefs and benchs, clear water and colorful fish. It's a good place for taking sunbathing, diving and sightseeing. Y ou can go there by Safeway Maritime’s boats, or take small planes. the price of flights is twice as much as boat, which is ok. there're many hotels there. including some fancy ones.
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 * [|Roatan] ||

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> More Information: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> http://www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras/bay-islands/roatan <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> http://hubpages.com/hub/Travel-Honduras <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> http://www.audleytravel.com/Destinations/Central-America/Honduras/Places-to-Go/The-Bay-Islands.aspx <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> **La Esperanza**

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> La Esperanza is the capital as well as the largest city in Intibucá, Honduras,with heavy Lenca population. In La Esperanza you can experience the traditional Lenca life.The local people use adobe brick construction, which is interesting to see. The sunday market in La Esperanza is well-known and is a good opportunity to see Lenca people's daily life in action. T o go to La Esperanza is easy. there're great varity of buses avilable, and they are very cheap. also flights torrists can go there freely. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> More Information: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> http://www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras/western-honduras/la-esperanza <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> http://www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras/western-honduras/la-esperanza/transport/getting-there-away
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 * = [|La Esperanza Honduras] ||

Baleadas
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Baleadas are one of the most well known and popular Honduran foods. The simple version consists of a thick flour – though sometimes corn – tortilla that has been put on a charcoal grill. It’s slathered in refried black beans and a bit of white farmer’s cheese then folded over like an American style soft Taco. Baleadas are important to Honduran life, as what burritos are to Mexico. You can find baleadas in almost every Honduras restaurants, and there're also some baleada-theme restaurants like Baleada Express and Super Baleadas, which offers all kinds of blaeadas for you to choose.

Tamales
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: inherit;">Tamales are a traditional Latin American dish, and it's also very common in Honduras. It's made of cornmeal dough filled with meats, cheeses, dried fruit, or sweet corn (my favorite). Tamales are wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves, steamed, and served hot. To taste the best tamales, you may go to streetside vendors, as they provide the most traditional and well-made tamales.

Anafres
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Anafre is the name of the clay pot where usually hot coal is placed to heat up the plate placed on its top. Anafres is a traditional appetizer in Honduras. At its most basic, anafres is a refried black bean and cheese fondue, served hot over coals in a clay pot. Often, peppers and/or chorizo can be added. Tortilla chips accompany the anafres for dipping.

Popular Restaurants
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 * **Munchies** in Utila, offering great Caribbean vibe. []
 * **RJ's BBQ** in Utila, hug varity of barbecue. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras/bay-islands/utila/restaurants/other/rj-s-bbq
 * **Expatriates Bar & Grill** in La Cieba, barbecue. []
 * **La Llama De Bosque** in Copan Ruinas, lunch & dinner. []
 * **Carnitas Nia Lola** in Copan Ruinas, bar-and-grill. []

** Further Information **

 * Honduras - Country Guide in English and Español [|www.honduras.com]
 * Honduras Travel Information and Travel Guide [|www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras]
 * Travel Honduras []