Lempira Department (Departamento de Lempira)
Lempira is one of the 18 departments in Honduras. located in the western part of the country, it is bordered by the departments of Ocotepeque and Copán to the west, Intibucá to the east, and Santa Bárbara to the north. To its south lies the El Salvador–Honduras border. The departmental capital is Gracias.
It was named Gracias department until 1943. In colonial times, Gracias was an early important administrative center for the Spaniards. It eventually lost importance to Antigua, in Guatemala.
Lempira is a rugged department, and it is relatively isolated from the rest of the country. The highest mountain peak in Honduras, Cerro las Minas, is in Lempira. The department was named after Lempira, a local chieftain of the Lenca people who fought against the Spanish conquistadores in the early 16th century. Opals are mined near the town of Erandique.
The department covers a total surface area of 4,290 km². In 2005, had an estimated population of 277,910.
* 1) Belén
* 2) Candelaria
* 3) Cololaca
* 4) Erandique
* 5) Gracias
* 6) Gualcince
It was named Gracias department until 1943. In colonial times, Gracias was an early important administrative center for the Spaniards. It eventually lost importance to Antigua, in Guatemala.
Lempira is a rugged department, and it is relatively isolated from the rest of the country. The highest mountain peak in Honduras, Cerro las Minas, is in Lempira. The department was named after Lempira, a local chieftain of the Lenca people who fought against the Spanish conquistadores in the early 16th century. Opals are mined near the town of Erandique.
The department covers a total surface area of 4,290 km². In 2005, had an estimated population of 277,910.
* 1) Belén
* 2) Candelaria
* 3) Cololaca
* 4) Erandique
* 5) Gracias
* 6) Gualcince
Map - Lempira Department (Departamento de Lempira)
Map
Country - Honduras
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| Flag of Honduras | |
Honduras was home to several important Mesoamerican cultures, most notably the Maya, before the Spanish colonization in the sixteenth century. The Spanish introduced Catholicism and the now predominant Spanish language, along with numerous customs that have blended with the indigenous culture. Honduras became independent in 1821 and has since been a republic, although it has consistently endured much social strife and political instability, and remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. In 1960, the northern part of what was the Mosquito Coast was transferred from Nicaragua to Honduras by the International Court of Justice.
Currency / Language
| ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| HNL | Honduran lempira | L | 2 |
| ISO | Language |
|---|---|
| ES | Spanish language |