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Cortés (department)
Encyclopedia
Cortés is one of the 18 departments into which the Central America
n nation of Honduras
is divided. The department covers a total surface area of 3,954 km² and, in 2005, had an estimated population of 1,365,497 people, making it the most populous department in Honduras. The Merendón Mountains
rise in western Cortés, but the department is mostly a tropical lowland, the Sula Valley, crossed by the Ulúa and Chamelecon rivers.
It was created in 1893 from parts of the departments of Santa Bárbara
and Yoro
. The departmental capital is San Pedro Sula
. Main cities also include Choloma
, La Lima
, Villanueva
, and the sea ports of Puerto Cortés
and Omoa
. The Atlantic coast of the Department of Cortés is known for its many excellent beaches.
Cortés is the economic heartland of Honduras, as the Sula Valley is the country's main agricultural and industrial region. US banana companies arrived in the area in the late 19th Century, and established vast plantations, as well as infrastructure to ship the fruit to the United States
. San Pedro Sula attracted substantial numbers of European, Central American, and Palestinian
and Lebanese
immigrants. Industry flourishes in the department, and Cortés today hosts most of the country's assembly plants, known as maquilas
.
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
n nation of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
is divided. The department covers a total surface area of 3,954 km² and, in 2005, had an estimated population of 1,365,497 people, making it the most populous department in Honduras. The Merendón Mountains
Sierra del Merendón
Sierra del Merendón is a mountain range extending on the eastern border of Guatemala and Honduras. Its south-western border is marked by the Lempa River valley, its northern border by the Motagua River valley...
rise in western Cortés, but the department is mostly a tropical lowland, the Sula Valley, crossed by the Ulúa and Chamelecon rivers.
It was created in 1893 from parts of the departments of Santa Bárbara
Santa Bárbara (department)
Santa Bárbara is one of the 18 departments into which the Central American nation of Honduras is divided.The departmental capital is Santa Bárbara.The department covers a total surface area of 5,115...
and Yoro
Yoro
Yoro is the capital city of the Yoro department of Honduras....
. The departmental capital is San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
. Main cities also include Choloma
Choloma
Choloma is a municipality in the Honduran department of Cortés. The mayor is Polo Crivelli. It is now the third largest city in Honduras.Many factories are stationed in Choloma due to cheap labor which has helped the municipality's economy. As a result of this fast food joints like Pizza Hut,...
, La Lima
La Lima
La Lima is a municipality in the Honduran department of Cortés. It is home to the corporate headquarters of the Tela Railroad Company, a subsidiary of Chiquita. The city is divided into two halves, La Lima Vieja, located on the western side of the Chamelecon River, and La Lima Nueva, located on...
, Villanueva
Villanueva
-Colombia:*Villanueva, Bolívar, a town and municipality in Bolívar Department*Villanueva, Casanare, a town and municipality in Casanare Department*Villanueva, La Guajira, a town and municipality in La Guajira Department...
, and the sea ports of Puerto Cortés
Puerto Cortés
-Geography:It is on the Caribbean Sea coast, north of San Pedro Sula and east of Omoa, at 15.85° N, 87.94° W. It has a natural bay.It is Honduras's main sea port and it is considered the most important seaport in Central America...
and Omoa
Omoa
Omoa is a town and a municipality in the Department of Cortés of the Central American country of Honduras. Omoa is located on a small bay of the same name 18 km. west of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean Sea coast.- Geography :...
. The Atlantic coast of the Department of Cortés is known for its many excellent beaches.
Cortés is the economic heartland of Honduras, as the Sula Valley is the country's main agricultural and industrial region. US banana companies arrived in the area in the late 19th Century, and established vast plantations, as well as infrastructure to ship the fruit to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. San Pedro Sula attracted substantial numbers of European, Central American, and Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
and Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
immigrants. Industry flourishes in the department, and Cortés today hosts most of the country's assembly plants, known as maquilas
Maquiladora
A maquiladora or maquila is a concept often referred to as an operation that involves manufacturing in a country that is not the client's and as such has an interesting duty or tariff treatment...
.
Municipalities
- CholomaCholomaCholoma is a municipality in the Honduran department of Cortés. The mayor is Polo Crivelli. It is now the third largest city in Honduras.Many factories are stationed in Choloma due to cheap labor which has helped the municipality's economy. As a result of this fast food joints like Pizza Hut,...
- La LimaLa LimaLa Lima is a municipality in the Honduran department of Cortés. It is home to the corporate headquarters of the Tela Railroad Company, a subsidiary of Chiquita. The city is divided into two halves, La Lima Vieja, located on the western side of the Chamelecon River, and La Lima Nueva, located on...
- Omoa
- Pimienta
- PotrerillosPotrerillos, CortésPotrerillos, Cortés Department, Honduras, is growing into a city. It has the most famous elementary school called Escuela Urbana Mixta Minerva...
- Puerto Cortés
- San Antonio de CortésSan Antonio de CortésSan Antonio de Cortés is a municipality in the Honduran department of Cortés....
- San Francisco de YojoaSan Francisco de YojoaSan Francisco de Yojoa is a municipality in the Honduran department of Cortés.Religion: Mostly Christians. Jehovah's Witnesses or Baptist....
- San ManuelSan Manuel, CortésSan Manuel is a municipality in the Honduran department of Cortés....
- San Pedro Sula
- Santa Cruz de YojoaSanta Cruz de YojoaSanta Cruz de Yojoa is a municipality in the Honduran department of Cortés. Santa Cruz de Yojoa is located approximately 50 miles south of San Pedro Sula on top of a large hillside on the way to the dam that supplies power to many Central American cities...
- VillanuevaVillanueva, CortésVillanueva, Cortés Department, Honduras, was a little town but today is a city with a lot of banks, for example Banco de Occiente, Citi Bank, Electra...