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Uruguay
Introduction Honduras is situated in Central America surrounded by tropical mountains with Guatemala to the west and Nicaragua in the east. It has a population of around 8 million and its capital city is Tegucigalpa. In the north it borders the Caribbean Sea with fantastic beaches and attractive climate. The Bay Islands are protected by the second largest coral reef in the world. In the south it is bordered by El Salvador and the Pacific. |
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Geography The three major regions of the country are the two coastal lowlands in the north and south enclosing the mountainous interior highlands which make up 80% of the land area. These mountains are highest in the west bordering Guatemala with peaks reaching 2800 metres. In the central area there are many highland valleys at around 500 metres which provide better agriculture than the slopes of the mountains. There are also towns and cities nestling in these relatively fertile areas, including the capital Tegucigalpa. In the east the mountains merge into Nicaragua but are equally poor soil and used mainly for livestock |
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Economy Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America with a GDP of $4k per capital compared with an average of $12k per capita. Unemployment is very high at near to 30% and high inflation is also an issue. The main problem is the paucity of natural resources and a small internal market. Agriculture is difficult except in the limited fertile lowlands, but is still the major sector at 23%. Coffee is the main export now accounting for about 20% although bananas have recovered significantly since the decimation of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Manufacturing is still very limited and only in the more basic technologies and industries. |
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Government Despite its natural beauty, the country is still well under-developed due to historically poor government, corruption, crime and natural disasters. There is massive economic inequality and widespread poverty and disease. The authorities have a continuous battle against young drug gangs who offer quick wealth from dealing to the large number of addicts. In 1998 the country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch which killed 5000 people and wiped out 70% of all crops. It still has not fully recovered from this disaster. |
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Montevideo Tegucigalpa together with the city of Comayaguela is the joint capital of Honduras. The population is about 1.25 million and so is the country`s largest city and political centre and home to many of the important major companies, cultural and sporting organisations. Situated at 1000m in the southern region of the central highlands, its airport is infamous for it tortuous access. The roads infrastructure is also a major problem, having not kept pace with the growth in vehicle usage in the capital. Poor urban planning and congestion are a daily toil for most citizens. It is a government priority to try to address these issues, but they struggle on limited resources. When Hurricane Mitch struck in 1998, the river Choluteca burst its banks and the floods badly damaged many districts. They are still being repaired. However there still remain some charming old colonial buildings reminiscent of bygone eras. The pleasant climate is a redeeming feature of the city, and its tourist industry is beginning to grow |
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10 Other interesting facts about Uruguay 1. Mayan civilization was pre-eminent in Honduras in the centuries before the arrival of Columbus in 1502. 2. Following independence from Spain in 1821 and from Mexico in 1822, Honduras joined the United Provinces of Central America. In 1839, it became totally independent. 3. Undergraduate education is only reached by about 5% of the population. 4. There is no state religion in Honduras, however the Roman Catholic church gets well represented in public life. 5. Honduran music has a folk style with a Spanish beat using guitars and marimbas and is played during traditional Honduran celebrations. 6. Soccer is the main sport in Honduras. 7. Popular in the basic diet is rice, beans, tamales and corn. Beef soup and chicken stock soup are also common. 8. 20% of the population are still illiterate. 10. Honduras is the second largest country in central America. |
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Other neighbours of Honduras |
How to get to Buñol |
- from Valencia: (the easiest route) By train with line C-3 with train company Cercanias de Renfe
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Key Accessories for La Tomatina |
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Tomatina t-shirts and vest tops
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Other things to see in Valencia |
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