The Central American country of Honduras is a poor, not too prosperous state, and also regularly shaken by various political conflicts. The crime rate here, unfortunately, is high, and tourists here need to look both ways so as not to part with their lives. Local residents in Honduras, however, suffer no less from what is happening in their country, and there are undoubtedly much more good people than bad ones. Which does not negate the fact that going here on vacation is not the best idea.
Facts about Honduras
- It is in this country that San Pedro Sula is located, the most dangerous city in the world, the number of murders per capita in which is higher than anywhere else.
- In most Honduran cities, areas are divided into spheres of influence between various street gangs. For local residents, this is natural, but tourists often have problems.
- Among all Latin American countries, Honduras is considered the least safe, bypassing even Guatemala, El Salvador, Venezuela and Nicaragua (interesting facts about Nicaragua).
- The population of Honduras is 10 million people.
- In Spanish, the name of this country means «depths».
- The first European to visit these lands was the famous navigator Christopher Columbus.
- At one time the territories of modern Honduras were colonized by the Maya Indians, who ousted the indigenous natives from here. However, for reasons unknown to us, the Maya left these places many centuries before the arrival of European conquistadors, who completed the fall of their culture.
- The Honduran capital, the city of Tegucigalpa, was founded by the Spaniards as a colonial settlement. Its climate is mild, as the city center lies at an altitude of about 1 km above sea level.
- Sometimes, Honduras is hit by devastating hurricanes that originate over the surface of the Caribbean Sea (interesting facts about the Caribbean Sea).
- For several centuries, Honduras was part of Guatemala, which was then also a Spanish colony.
- Since the population density in this country is low, a variety of wild animals, both dangerous and harmless, are found everywhere.
- According to statistics, more than half of the population of Honduras lives in rural areas.
- About 90% of Hondurans are mestizos of mixed origin.
- The country’s first public university was opened in 1847, and the first private university in 1978.
- The army in Honduras is formed by conscription. Conscripts serve for 2 years.
- Unlike many other countries in Latin America, the population of Honduras is somewhat less religious for the most part. At the last census, as many as 8% of people answered that they were not followers of any religion (interesting facts about Latin America).
- The economy of Honduras is very dependent on the United States, since the States are the main trading partner of this state.
- The Honduran currency is called «lempira». It was introduced back in 1931, and was named after the Indian leader.
- Located in Tegucigalpa, Toncontin Airport is one of the ten most dangerous in the world. The short runway, mountains on all sides, regular cloud cover in the area – all this has led to the fact that only a very limited number of pilots have a license allowing them to fly through this airport.
- A national symbol of this country is the red macaw.
- The term «banana republic» was first used specifically in relation to Honduras. It was used by the writer O. Henry, who at one time was hiding here from the American authorities. By the way, in the export of bananas, Honduras really now ranks 2nd in the world.
- Once, a 6-day war broke out between Honduras and neighboring El Salvador, the reason for which was a football match in which the Honduran national team lost to Salvadoran (interesting facts about Salvador).
- Every year for more than a hundred years between May and July in the Honduras department of Yoro, eyewitnesses observe how a dark cloud appears in the sky, lightning flashes, thunder rumbles, a strong wind blows, and then heavy rain pours for 2-3 hours, and not only from water, but also from living fish raised by a hurricane along with sea water.
- According to one old legend, the famous pirate Kidd hid his treasures on one of the islands off the coast of Honduras. This legend formed the basis of Stevenson’s novel «Treasure Island».
- The Honduras Islands are surrounded by the world’s largest living coral reefs.
- The Garifuna people living in Honduras are included UNESCO in the list of World Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Representatives of this people were able to preserve their music and dances, which are not found anywhere else in the world.
- Unlike most other countries in the world, school education in Honduras is not compulsory.
- Former President Honduras Loba Sosa received his higher education in Moscow, at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia.