Honduras

Honduras is a tropical country located in the heart of Central America, with the Pacific Ocean on the south coast and the Caribbean Sea on the north coast. Honduras borders three countries: Guatemala in the west, El Salvador in the southwest, and Nicaragua in the southeast. Honduras is the second largest country in Central America, with the size of the country being slightly larger than Tennessee. The country is split into 18 departments, and the capital is Tegucigalpa. Honduras has a diverse geography, split into five distinct regions.

 

First is the Interior Highlands, which covers ⅔ or 60% of the country. It is very mountainous and made up of extinct volcanoes. The Cordillera Merendón runs along the border with Guatemala, the Cordillera Nombre de Dios lies south of the Caribbean shore, and the Cordillera Entre Ríos makes up part of the border with Nicaragua. The many rivers that run through this region create fertile valleys between the mountains. On top of these mountains are cloud forests; they catch moisture in the air, creating an environment for broadleaf plants to grow. The climate of this region is tropical but moderate, with the rainy season between May and September.

 

Moving south are the Pacific Lowlands, which is the smallest region, only 16 miles wide. The lowlands have wet and dry seasons and year-round high temperatures, ranging from 82 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The dry season occurs between November and April, the hottest months of the year. Moving up to the north of Honduras are the Caribbean Lowlands, also known as the North Coast. The central part of the region is narrow, but to the east and the west, it is a wide coastal plain where banana plantations are located. It is tropical and always wet, with high temperatures and humidity. The Coast is also prone to hurricanes and other tropical storms.

 

The Mosquito Coast is an untamed wilderness and contains dense rainforests. Many indigenous people still live in this region, and it is split between Honduras and Nicaragua. The fifth region is the Bay Islands located in the Caribbean Sea, north of Mainland Honduras. The islands are the tips of ancient underwater volcanoes. Each island contains diverse geography, from mountains covered in jungle to barrier reefs. Roatán is the biggest of the islands.The north shore is made up of sandy beaches and cliffs, while the south shore is punctuated by inlets and bays. Around the island is a beautiful coral reef. In general, Honduras is a diverse tropical country full of different climates and geography (McGaffey et al. 8–21).