H O N D U R A S

Location etc.

In Central AmericaApproximately 1000 miles southwest of MiamiWeather is subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains.Consists mostly of mountains but also has narrow plains along the coast and a lowland jungle (La Mosquitia) in the northeast as well as the lowland (Sula) valley in the northwestPopulation of almost 7,500,000

Indigenous HistoryInhabited by the indigenous tribes, the most powerful were the Mayans civilization spanned 3000 years (from around 2,000 B.C. to 1521 A.D)They had a written language, were skilled architects, adventurous traders and gifted artisansvery creative and excelled in sculpture, painting, pottery and other artsKnown for their extremely accurate calendar Well-defined religious system based on the cosmos and nature (honored the god, sun, moon, rain and corn, for example)Christopher Columbus arrived to Honduras in 1502 on his third voyage to the AmericasBy the time the Europeans arrived, the empire had mysteriously disintegrated and what was left of it was weak and in disarray.

Recent History

1821 gained independence from Spain as a part of the Federal Republic of Central America 1840 became an independent state 1880 Capital moved from Comayagua to Tegucigalpa 1969 War with El Salvador 1982 Returned to civilian rule 1982 New constitution approved 1982 Appeared in the World Cup 1981-85 Nicaraguan Contra War 1998 Hurricane Mitch destroys infrastructure and takes lives

TegucigalpaCapital of Honduras

Comayagua was the capital but was destroyed in a civil war

70% of the Honduran population lives here

There are pretty parks, colorful houses and museums

The outskirts of the city are poor areas

Used to be a mining center

Mayan RuinsCopán • La Gran Plaza de Copán (the great plaza of copán) – there are important

statues with human figures and alters with carved animals• La Cancha de Pelota (the pelota court) – where the Mayas played a game that was a mix of soccer, football and basketball.