Honduras is a little-known Central American country with a lot of hidden gems to discover. However, I feel that this is due to the fact that most people just know a few things about Honduras. Apart from the fact that it is a small country south of the United States, nothing is known about it as a tourist destination.
If you know where to search, you’ll find that Honduras has a wide range of activities to suit all interests, but especially those who enjoy nature and adventure. Families seeking a calm vacation will like it as well. Unfortunately, because of the epidemic, this may be problematic.
Glimpse on Honduras
More than 75% of the country’s surface area is mountainous, with lowlands only found around the beaches and in river basins that extend into the interior. A few islands are also near the country’s coastline. It is the second biggest country in Central America, behind Nicaragua, with a total border length of 1,454 miles (2,340 kilometers), of which 509 miles (820 kilometers) is the shoreline.
Christopher Columbus was the first to discover this magnificent land. “Thank God we found these huge depths,” Columbus exclaimed as soon as he arrived in the region. Want to know more about the place? Let us read some interesting facts about the place:
Quick interesting facts about Honduras
Few people visit there, but those who do fall in love with its beaches and natural beauty. With Mayan ruins, Caribbean cities, mountains covered in lush woods, and little islands surrounded by crystal blue water, Belize is a must-see destination. Honduras, the nation from where the name “Banana Republic” was coined, has many fascinating and interesting facts about it that I’m sure you didn’t know about!
- Honduras was discovered by Christopher Columbus. “Thank God we got out of these tremendous depths!” he said as soon as he stepped onto solid ground.
- Honduras is a Spanish phrase that literally means “Great Depths.”
- The second-largest coral reef in the world is found off the coast of Honduras in the Caribbean. The only one that is bigger is the one in Australia.
- Copan is number four. Mayan Ruins are the most important ruins because they include totally preserved hieroglyphs. The primary source of Maya history as we know it now.
- The five stars on the Honduran flag reflect Central America’s five countries. Honduras is represented by the middle star.
- The currency of the country is named after one of the leaders who died in a conspiracy. The odd element is that, while the bill appears to depict an indigenous person, it actually depicts a Native American Indian from North America.
- On the bay islands, blonde-haired, blue-eyed Hondurans are entirely typical. They are direct descendants of British pirates who arrived in the United States more than 500 years ago.
- Moreover, half of the country’s population lives in poverty.
- In Central America and inside Honduras, Hondurans are known as Catrachos/Catrachas. It is not a derogatory moniker.
Unknown facts about Honduras
- The Green Palm Pit Viper, the Coral Snake, and the Middle American Rattlesnake are among the poisonous snakes found in Honduras.
- Tegucigalpa is the name of Honduras’ capital city.
- Honduras is the only Central American country with four of the region’s seven countries on its borders.
- The Comayagua church houses a rare treasure: the continent’s oldest clock.
- It is the very first country that has made smoking an offense keeping the health of the people in mind.
- Honduras was the first country in Central America to construct a cinema.
- Scarlet macaws are popular in Honduras and are extremely numerous. It has been designated as their national bird.
- Honduras declared independence on September 15, 1821. This data is shared by all of Central America’s nations.
- Punta music is the most popular and well-liked in the country, while soccer is the most popular sport.
- Between AD 426 and 820, Copán City was one of the Maya world’s most densely inhabited metropolitan regions.
- One of the locals’ favorite items to employ in traditional cuisine is coconut milk.
- The Ro Plátano Biosphere Reserve, famed for its diverse plant and animal life, has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Strange facts about Honduras
- One of the earliest, if not the oldest, locales where cacao was farmed and consumed is Puerto Escondido.
- To distinguish itself from British Honduras, currently known as Belize, Honduras was once known as Spanish Honduras.
- Toncontin International Airport was included in the History Channel’s list of the world’s most extreme airports. It was ranked number two on the list of the world’s most hazardous airports.
- Bats make up over half of Honduras’ animal species.
- The whale shark visits Utila Island in Honduras’ Caribbean Sea on a seasonal basis to feed.
- It is known as one of the most dangerous countries that are considered by visitors. The ones who travel to the city talk about the strange things that they know about this place. Also, the place has some strange vibes in its historical life.
Facts that you might not know about Honduras
- Initially, Honduras was integrated into the Mexican empire. Honduras then became a member of the United Provinces of Central America in 1823, along with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
- The Honduran flag is based on the United Provinces of Central America’s banner, which included blue-white-blue stripes with a coat of arms in the center. El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica all have current flags that incorporate variations of the pattern.
- The Honduran flag now has five blue stars, which symbolize the founding nations of the Central American federation.
- After the United Provinces of Central America were dissolved in 1840, Honduras became entirely independent.
- Honduras is the source of the pejorative epithet “banana republic.” The term is frequently applied to a tiny country, primarily in Latin America, that is impoverished, corrupt, and poorly governed.
- The word comes from the United States engagement in Honduras. At the turn of the century, the United Fruit Company, along with other US fruit firms, transformed Honduras into a massive banana plantation. To safeguard its business interests, the US interfered in a number of military coups. For most of the twentieth century, this approach controlled and hampered Honduran economics and politics.
- Hurricane Mitch wreaked havoc on Honduras in 1998. It killed around 5,600 people and cost $2 billion in damage.
- According to a recent survey, when it comes to extreme weather occurrences like floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires, Honduras is the world’s worst-affected country. Only Puerto Rico, a US territory, has been hit the hardest.
Conclusion
Honduras has a tumultuous history, and travelers should still exercise care in some areas. That isn’t to say that the country is off-limits. In reality, if done correctly, Honduras and Central America may provide you with some fantastic experiences. Honduras and El Salvador fought for 100 hours in a soccer (or football) war. It’s over with soccer. There might have been other economic factors at play, but the most essential thing to remember is soccer. We hope you enjoyed these interesting facts about the city.