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Table of Contents
Despite being a country with such a colorful culture, Honduras is one of the poorest in Latin America. More than half of the population is considered poor. Nonetheless, Honduras is prominent for its abundant natural resources, coffee, minerals, tropical fruits such as bananas and sugar cane. Another strength is its textile industry, which is open to the international market.
See the fact file below for more information on the Honduras or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Honduras worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
ETYMOLOGY
- On July 30, 1502, Christopher Columbus first discovered Honduran soil and then claimed the territory by the name of his sovereigns, who were Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile.
- He named the area “Honduras” which means “depths” for its deep water off the coast.
GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
- Honduras is the second-largest Central American republic with a total area of 112,890 square kilometers.
- To the west of Honduras is Guatemala.
- To its southwest there lies the country of El Salvador.
- To the southeast, Nicaragua is found.
- To the south, it is bordered not by a country, but by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca.
- To the north, still not bordered by a country but by the Gulf of Honduras, a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea.
- Honduras has three major topographical regions that dominate the landscape; the Caribbean lowlands, and the Pacific lowlands- fringing the Gulf of Fonseca.
- Honduras’ regions consist of an enormous interior plateau of hills and mountains.
- The capital city of Honduras is Tegucigalpa, which has an area of 201.5 square kilometers.
CLIMATE
- The climate in Honduras is tropical with a cooler and more temperate climate.
- The temperature in the mountains ranges from 16°C (61°F) to 20°C (68°F).
- Meanwhile, the north coast is very hot with rain throughout the year, and though the offshore breezes temper the climate, the sun is very strong.
HISTORY
- During the early times, indigenous people lived in Honduras, and many of them were Mayans.
- In 1502, Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover Honduras.
- Columbus later sailed as far as Panama.
- Honduras became known from its Spanish word “depths.”
- Spain began to assume full power over Honduras in 1523.
- In March 1524, a Spanish conquistador by the name of Gil González Dávila entered Honduras. He was the first Spaniard to do so.
- Hernán Cortés followed Davila.
- The Spaniards introduced Roman Catholicism to Honduras and the Spanish language, along with numerous customs that have blended with the indigenous culture.
- In 1539, the native people were forced to work for Spaniards, but because of European diseases like smallpox to which they had no resistance, they fell ill, and many of them died.
- Later on, Spanish colonies in central and South America gained their independence in the late 19th century.
- It was in 1821 when Honduras gained independence from Spain.
- This independence was not full yet when a year later, it was joined with Mexico and four other countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
- The five Central American countries became independent from Mexico in 1823.
- Honduras finally became completely independent in 1839.
- Exports of bananas made up the most significant contributor to the economy in the early 20th century.
- General Tiburcio Carias Andino was elected as the president of Honduras in 1932.
- He made himself a dictator, and he held onto power until 1949.
- General Oswaldo Lopez began his administration in 1963.
- Honduras fought a war with El Salvador in 1969.
- In 1974, General Oswaldo Lopez resigned, but the civilian rule was not yet restored until 1981.
- In 1988, Hurricane Mitch struck Honduras, and unfortunately, the nation suffered severely, although it recovered slowly.
- Nevertheless, Honduras remains one of the poorest countries to this day.
ECONOMY
- The economy is agricultural, but Hurricane Mitch made the primary industry vulnerable.
- The lower class in rural areas is primarily agriculturally based while the country’s urban centers are where the country’s wealth is concentrated.
- Honduras currently has a Human Development Index of 0.625, classifying it as a nation with medium development.
- Honduras is also a low-income country that faces significant challenges, with more than 66% of the population living in poverty as per data recorded in 2016.
- Approximately one out of 5 Hondurans live in extreme poverty, or on less than US$1.90 per day in rural areas.
PEOPLE
- Honduras is a diverse country for it has several distinct ethnic groups: 90% are mestizo (mixed American Indian and European), 7% Amerindian, 2% black, and 1% white.
- Because of its colonial past, Honduras has strong Spanish influences, but the majority of the population is mestizo, mainly leading an agricultural way of life with a low standard of living.
CULTURE
- Hondurans love to party at festivals or carnivals.
- Festivals are an important part of their lives.
- Even though the mestizo Latin-ness is dominant in Honduras, the country is also influenced by other cultures.
- Many indigenous peoples live in Honduras such as Lenca and Miskito peoples.
RELIGION
- The major religious groups are Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Jehovah’s Witness, Mennonite, evangelical Protestant groups, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
Honduras Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Honduras across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Honduras worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Honduras which is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. More than half of the population is considered poor. Nonetheless, Honduras is prominent for its abundant natural resources, coffee, minerals, tropical fruits such as bananas and sugar cane. Another strength is its textile industry, which is open to the international market.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Honduras Facts
- Honduras Profile
- Columbus’ Discovery
- Independence Timeline
- Conquered By Spaniards
- Main Export
- Cities of Honduras
- Fact Sketch
- Exploring Central America
- Would You Go?
- Message In A Bottle
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Link will appear as Honduras Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 12, 2019
Use With Any Curriculum
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