Honduras - interesting facts

The state of Honduras is located in Central America. This is an exotic country that attracts tourists from all over the world. Let's find out what is interesting for tourists.

Honduras - the most interesting facts about the country

Basic information about Honduras:

1. The capital of the country is the city of Tegucigalpa . Honduras borders on Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and is washed by the Pacific Ocean. It is a unitary republic with a presidential form of government.
2. The head of state is elected by the people for a four-year term, and it belongs only to the executive branch. Legislative body is the National Congress, which consists of 128 deputies.
3. The official language is Spanish, but many native speakers speak Indian dialects. Approximately 97% of the population profess Catholicism.
4. Almost the entire currency of Honduras is decorated with the image of a national hero - the brave leader of Lempira. It was he, together with his detachment, who repulsed the warlike invaders. Especially famous was the victory over the Indian soldiers, who have not since attempted to conquer these lands.
5. The state has a high crime rate. In general, Honduras is one of the most criminal countries in Central America. Here drug trafficking rules.
6. The educational system is in a poor state, as schooling is optional. Children usually go to school at 7 years old, and at 12 already begin to work.
7. Despite the fact that this is a poor and underdeveloped country, there live kind and polite people who will always come to the rescue. Aborigines love to be addressed not only by name, but also by the nature of their activities.

Historical facts about Honduras

The history of the country is also quite fascinating:

1. Its name Honduras received from Christopher Columbus in 1502, and it is translated as "depth". The navigator got into a strong storm, and then, safely arriving to the shore, said the famous words: "I am grateful to the Lord that I could come out of these depths."
2. In ancient times, the country was inhabited by the Maya tribes. The traces of their empire have survived to the present day. They are presented in the form of a hieroglyphic staircase , consisting of 68 stone steps, on which the entire history of the city is described. This text is the longest of all, left by a mysterious civilization. In the capital works a historical museum , where you can get acquainted with archaeological exhibits.
3. According to legend, one of the most famous pirates - Captain Kidd, who robbed in the basin of the Caribbean, hid all the extracted jewelry on the islands of Honduras. He paid particular attention to the island of Utila . Travelers, together with the local population, are still trying to find these treasures.
4. It is worth noting one of the ethnic groups living in Honduras - these are Garifuns, or "Black Caribs". These are black people, whose history begins with the time of African slaves. This nationality has preserved its culture, and is also famous for traditional dances (chumba, carikavi, vanaragua, punta) and unique music using tortoiseshells, guitars, maracas and drums. They were recognized by UNESCO as an object of the World Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Interesting natural facts about the country Honduras

The nature of Honduras is quite unusual:

1. There are many wild animals inhabiting the country: wolves, alligators, coats, panthers, tapirs, monkeys, deer, pumas, jaguars, lynxes, snakes, etc.
2. The symbol of Honduras is the sacred parrot macaw. On the one hand - it's an ominous bird, bringing rain, and on the other - a symbol of the soul. Honor in the country and pine, as well as amazing orchids.
3. The capital of the country - Tegucigalpa has one of the most dangerous airports in the world, Tonkontin . The runway here is quite short and is located next to the mountains. Pilots undergo special training for take-off and landing.
4. Honduras is the second state in the world to export bananas. Diligence of the population and excellent climate made the production of this fruit the most profitable. Also here are engaged in sugar cane, shrimp and coffee.
5. Honduras is famous for its beaches on the picturesque islands with azure water and snow-white sand. Here come fans of diving and scuba diving. In the water lives a huge number of marine animals.
6. One of the most unique facts is that in one of the cities of Honduras, Yoro, every year from May to July begins a real fish rain . A dark cloud appears in the sky, thunder roars, lightning flashes, a strong wind blows and pours pouring rain. The unusual nature of this thunderstorm is that at this time, besides the water, a lot of live fish fall from the sky, which the aborigines are happy to collect and go home to cook. In Yoro even held a Festival of Rain Rain, where you can try a variety of seafood dishes, dance and have fun.

The state of Honduras is an amazing country that annually attracts thousands of tourists with its exoticism. Going here, observe the safety rules and remember the local traditions, so that your vacation in Honduras was comfortable.