Honduras

Other than Haiti, Honduras is the poorest country in the Central American / Caribbean area. Impenetrable rain forests and mountainous terrain comprise 80 percent of the land. Most Hondurans live along the northern Caribbean coast or in the southwestern highlands, where most economic activity is concentrated. Hondurans are Mestizos, a mixture of Mayan and Spanish ancestors. The majority is peasant farmers, and more than half of them live below the poverty line. The infant mortality rate in Honduras is the highest in Latin America.

Honduras is home to the largest banana plantations in Central America. Bananas are the country's chief export. For almost 100 years the banana industry has had a major influence in Honduran politics and the economy.

Because of its strategic location (bordering both El Salvador and Nicaragua) Honduras has been involved in the military dynamics of the region, carrying out joint military maneuvers with U.S. troops who are still stationed in the country.

A new artisan group, working with Mennonite Economic Development Associates, employs craftswomen and young people in the production of crocheted Christmas ornaments. This activity helps rural citizens learn a trade, employs young people after school hours, and provides an important supplemental source of income.

Links to country facts and maps:
Lonely Planet