There are many theories about the name Honduras. The most popularly accepted is that on Christopher Columbus’s fourth and last voyage when leaving our territory a terrible storm battered his ships and, upon clearing such storm he cried out "Thank God we are free of these depths (Honduras)" and from then on the name stick for all places west of the mouth of the Coco or Segovia river. The native names of these lands were Guaymuras and Hibueras.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
The Republic of Honduras is strategically located at the heart of Central America. To the North it limits the Caribbean where we have several islands, islets and keys, among them the Bay Islands and Swan Islands, to the East with the Caribbean and Nicaragua, West with Guatemala and to the South with the Pacific Ocean, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
POPULATION
6, 974,504 Inhabitants the population is made up of mestizos (90%), natives (6%), African ascendancy (2%) and whites (2%), the majority is Catholic
LANGUAGES
Spanish (Official), English, Maya and garífuna
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
The government of the Republic of Honduras is made up of 3 branches: Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. The first two are chosen by ballot in free elections. The Judiciary is chosen by the Executive. The Executive is presided by the President and his Cabinet. The Legislative is a one chamber system with 128 congressmen elected directly by secret general ballot.
CURRENCY
The lempira (Lps.) 1 lempira = 100 cents. Currency is in bills of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 lempira, and coins of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent. Our home page has the daily Exchange rate.
HONDURAS CULTURE
Honduras has a cultural diversity that mixes the heritage from old civilizations like the Maya and lenca, the colonial past with our living ethnic groups. Among them lencas, Miskito, tolupanes, payas or pech, chortís, sumos or tawahkas and garífunas
In our country, craftsmen show their skills by making a great variety of fine handicrafts like vases, chine and pots from clay, basket and furniture from bamboo and hats, purses and fans from various reeds. Mahogany and cedar wood turned into fine carvings, chests and furniture. Others materials used are leather, shells, dry flowers, seeds, corn husk.
About our traditional cuisine, they include roasted beef with chismol, chicken with rice and corn, fried fish with onion pickle and the typical garífuna dish, fish fried in coconut oil. Other comfort food is enchiladas, nacatamales, baleadas, "mondongo" or tripe soup as well as an assortment of tropical fruits. Also favored are kebabs, pork chops with tortillas, red beans, rice and of course, fried plantains.
In addition all major cities have restaurants serving international cuisine as well as fast food.
RELIGION
There is freedom of religion in our country with the population predominantly Christian and mostly catholic
MAJOR CITIES
Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, El Progreso, Choluteca, Puerto Cortes, Danlí, Comayagua, Tela, Juticalpa, Santa Rosa de Copan
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
Toncontín (Tegucigalpa), Ramón Villeda Morales (San Pedro Sula), Golosón (La Ceiba), Juan Manuel Gálvez (Roatán).
