Honduras, the second-largest country in Central America, lies east of El Salvador and Guatemala, and west of Nicaragua. Slightly larger than Tennessee, it is very mountainous, with fertile plateaus, river valleys, and coastal plains. Tegucigalpa is the capital and largest city of Honduras.
Honduras was once part of Spain’s empire in the New World; it became an independent nation in 1821. Since its independence, Honduras has operated under several constitutions which have been initiated, only to be discarded. Between 1957 and 1982, the country was primarily under military rule. In 1982, a new constitution took effect, and it is the one that the country follows today. Now a democratic constitutional republic, Honduras is headed by a President, who is elected by the people for a single 4-year term.
The natural resources of Honduras are plentiful, yet most Hondurans live in poverty, including the farmers. Agricultural products such as bean, coffee, and corn help sustain Hondurans. Honduras also has rich mineral resources, including silver, gold, copper, and iron. Cattle ranches provide another source of income.
Of the estimated 7.4 million Honduras, 90 percent are mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European), 7 percent are Amerindian, 2 percent are black, and 1 percent are white. An overwhelming majority (97 percent) practice the Roman Catholic religion. Spanish is the major language spoken. Amerindian dialects are also spoken in Honduras.
The major unit of currency is the lempira, which is equal to 100 centavos.
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