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Honduras Geography

Honduras is the second largest country in Central America after Nicaragua. Honduras covers 112,000 sq km (43,300 sq mi) of total land area and is slightly larger than Tennessee. Bordered by Guatemala and El Salvador to its west and Nicaragua to its east, the country has 644km of Caribbean coastline and 124km of Pacific coastline. Approximately 75% of the country is mountainous but these areas have suffered considerably from deforestation in recent years. The only substantial lowlands are found in coastal areas.

Dominant geographical features include the mountainous interior, comprising nearly 80 percent of the country. Lake Yojoa is located in the northwest and the Caratasca Lagoon in the northeast. Honduras can be divided into four geographic regions:

1. The northern coast of Honduras extends from Guatemala to Nicaragua, running 591 km (367 mi) along the Caribbean Sea and extending inland about 120 km (75 mi) at the widest point. The fertile Ulua-Chameecon River Basin in the northwest, the principal banana-producing region, consists of grasslands, swamps, palm trees, and pine forests.
2. The northeastern plain, part of the Mosquito Coast, borders Nicaragua and includes two of the Swan Islands, located about 201 km (125 mi) to the north of the mainland. This region consists of tropical rain forests, grasslands, and some pine forests.
3. The southern coast, a narrow coastal plain extending inland about 120 km (75 mi) at the widest point, provides access to the Pacific Ocean and consists mostly of mangrove trees.
4. The central mountain ranges are composed of two series of mountain ranges that divide the country in half. The northern range, known as the Central American Cordillera, is an extension of a mountain chain that runs from Mexico to Nicaragua. This southern Volcanic Highland area contains the two highest peaks in Honduras, both more than 2,750 meters (9,000 ft) elevation. However, highland elevation generally is between 2,400 and 2,900 meters (7,300 and 8,600 ft). These mountain ranges create an extensive river system and lie mostly outside the more active Pacific ranges. Honduras seldom experiences the extreme volcanic eruptions and earthquakes of neighboring countries.

Unregulated disposal of raw sewage and industrial waste contribute to contamination of surface and ground water. Water distribution and treatment systems are deteriorating and unreliable. Sewer lines that often are positioned atop potable water lines increase the likelihood of contamination. Although some sections of larger urban areas have sewage collection systems, most sewage is discharged untreated into waterways. Rural areas use septic tanks and latrines that overflow during periods of flooding, causing surface water contamination. Consumption of water contaminated with raw sewage or runoff containing fecal pathogens may cause a variety of acute enteric infections.