Portal:Honduras/Interesting facts

Honduras interesting facts

... that a "rain of fish" (a tornado that travels over the ocean, sucks up fish and then drops them over villages) is a common theme appearing in Honduran art - part of the Culture of Honduras?

...that Salomón Ibarra Mayorga, the lyricist of the Nicaraguan national anthem, was exiled to Honduras for his political activities but was reburied in Nicaragua after his death?

...that William Gore Ouseley (pictured),
William Gore Ouseley self portrait
a diplomat noted for representing British interests in Nicaragua and Honduras, found one of the earliest sources for the Pantomime story of Dick Whittington's cat?

... that infighting among the conquistadors hindered the Spanish conquest of Honduras?

... that William Chong Wong, the son of Chinese immigrant parents, twice served as Minister of Finance in Honduras?

... that in March 1871, Sensuntepeque was raided by Salvadorian Liberals with Honduran army backing after Honduras declared war on El Salvador?

... that the royal dynasty at the Maya city of Copán (fragment pictured)
Sculpture on Temple 11 of Copán
in Honduras was founded by a warrior sent from the distant city of Tikal?

... that the British settlement of Black River on the Mosquito Coast of present-day Honduras was turned over to Spanish authorities on 29 August 1787 under the terms of the 1786 Convention of London?

... that the Honduran archaeological site El Puente was founded by the people of Copán to control the crossroads of two Maya trade routes?

... that while political analyst Aníbal Delgado Fiallos had been a staunch critic of Honduran president Manuel Zelaya's constitutional reform, he took part in the protests against Zelaya's ouster?

... that the bulk of the founders of the Socialist Party of Honduras had been members of the Christian Democratic Party?
... that on May 14, 1980, Salvadoran forces massacred more than 300 civilians while Honduran soldiers prevented them from escaping across the border?
... that although the type specimen of the black catbird (pictured)
Black catbird
was reportedly collected in Honduras, the species has never been recorded there since?

... that the Honduran romance novel Blanca Olmedo is a rare early female criticism of the establishment and corruption in Honduras?

... that the Peñol de Cerquín, a Lenca fortress in southern Honduras, successfully resisted the Spanish conquistadores for months?

... that despite being removed from the 1992 Honduras Olympic team and Olympic Village, Polin Belisle still competed in the Olympic marathon?

... that the first woman to notoriously wear lipstick in Honduras is said to now be their premier woman poet?

... that when the 1980 Honduras earthquake struck, it gave a man a fatal heart attack?

... that the Venezuelan footballer Edder Farías scored against Honduras in February 2015, his country's first victory since September 2013?
... that samples of moon rock and lunar dust soil from the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 missions, mounted on wooden plaque displays especially for Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Honduras, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Romania, Spain, and Sweden, plus the states of Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii (pictured), Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and West Virginia, were later reported missing by many of the recipients?

... that a river in Honduras swelled 15 meters (50 feet) above its normal level during torrential rains from a hurricane in 1935?

...that Salomón Ibarra Mayorga, the lyricist of the Nicaraguan national anthem, was exiled to Honduras for his political activities but was reburied in Nicaragua after his death?

... that when the British Honduran Lands Department claimed no lands were available for women, Gwendolyn Lizarraga marched into the swamp and measured lots to create land parcels?

... that Honduran journalist Herlyn Espinal had aspirations of running for mayor of his hometown of Santa Rita, Yoro, before his murder?

... that the Honduran Patriotic Front, an alliance formed ahead of the 1980s elections, called for an electoral boycott in protest against perceived fraud?

... that on 3 October 1963, the Honduran military overthrew its civilian government ten days before a scheduled election?

... that Hurricane Michelle (pictured),
Hurricane Michelle
a storm which took place in the 2001 Atlantic hurricane season, caused numerous deaths and large-scale damage in Jamaica, Cuba, Honduras, and Nicaragua?

... that Tegucigalpa's dining includes traditional Honduran cuisine—a fusion of the African, Spanish and indigenous cuisines?

... that the Honduran milk snake's color resemblance to the coral snake, known as Batesian mimicry, helps protect it from potential predators?

... that thanks to the song "Sopa de Caracol", the musical ensemble Banda Blanca became the best-known Honduran band?

... that the present-day Honduran island of Roatán was the site of a battle in the American War of Independence on March 16, 1782?