Geography
The Republic of Honduras is in Central America. It is bordered by Nicaragua, the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), El Salvador, Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea. The Bay Islands in the Caribbean belong to Honduras.

Tegucigalpa is the capital city. Other major cities include San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba.

Honduras is mostly mountainous with narrow coastal plains. The main river is the Ulua.

The climate is temperate in the mountainous regions and subtropical in the lowlands. The rainy season is from May to October.

Environment
The largest protected area in Honduras is the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage site.

La Tigra, near Tegucigalpa, was the first National Park in Honduras. Other National Parks are Celaque, Cerro Azul Meambar, Cusuco, La Muralla, Pico Bonito, Santa Barbara and Sierra de Agalta.

Animals found in Honduras are coatis, monkeys (howler monkey, capuchin and spider monkey), ocelots, pumas and tapirs. Birds include motmots, quetzals and toucans. Whales inhabit the waters off the coast. The island of Utila (the Bay Islands) is said to be one of the best places to see the whale shark, the world's largest fish.

Architecture
Perhaps the most famous structures in Honduras are those in Copan, a World Heritage site, and one of the most important sites of the Mayan civilization.

Spanish churches, some dating back to early colonization, can be found in the old towns. Red-tiled roofs and central plazas are also features of the Colonial towns such as Gracias and Santa Barbara.

Population
The population of Honduras was estimated at 10.28 million in 2021.

Languages
Spanish is the official language in Honduras. There are also a number of indigenous languages in use.

English is spoken in the Bay Islands, a former British colony.

Religion
The people of Honduras are Christians, mostly Roman Catholics.

Food
Staple foods in Honduras include tortillas, filled with beans or cheese, and corn tamales with meat fillings. Soups and stews are popular in Honduras. Cassava soup is a favourite meal.

Seafood is available on the Caribbean coast. Meat is often served as a kebab with vegetables. Eggs are eaten. Rice, red and black beans, cabbage, carrots, onions, plantains, peppers, sweet potatoes and tomatoes are grown. Salsa is used to add spice to food.

Fruit includes bananas, coconuts, mangoes, oranges, papayas and pineapples.

Coffee is grown in Honduras. The local alcoholic drink is chica, made from pineapple skin.

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