Honduras, with its capital Tegucigalpa, is slightly larger than Tennessee and
covers a total area of 112,090 sq. km. The climate is subtropical in the
lowlands and temperate in the mountain regions. The center of the country
consists of mostly mountains and along the outside, narrow coastal plains. The
natural resources include: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore,
antimony, coal, fish, and hydropower.
The estimated population size of this predominately Spanish speaking country is 6,406,052. Amerindian dialects are also spoken in regions of the country. The main industries are sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, and wood products. Agricultural products are also an important source of income including: bananas, coffee, citrus, beef, timber, and shrimp. The current environmental issues of Honduras are of great concern to the health of the environment and the future of the country. The urban population is expanding and the forests are being cleared (deforestation) for logging and agricultural purposes. Further land degradation and soil erosion is quickened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands and mining activities. The country's largest source of fresh water, the Lago de Yojoa, as well as several rivers and streams are continually polluted with heavy metals. The country suffered severe Hurricane Mitch damage and is still in the process of dealing with the massive impacts.
Click here for information about the wildlife and habitats of Central and South America.