In the east are the trackless swamps and rain forests of the Mosquito coast. Off the north coast of Honduras are found the Bay Islands of Froatan and Guanaja, a scuba divers' paradise. Honduras has a variety of climates due to its location in the tropics and its varied topography. Other crops are beans, rice, corn and sugarcane. There are rich forest resources and deposits of gold, cadmium, antimony and copper but these are underdeveloped because of inadequate road and rail systems.
Food processing is the major industry, followed by lumber, chemicals, clothing and cement.
650,00 live in the capital of Tegucigalpa. The restored Mayan ruins of Copan, in the west, reflect the great Mayan culture of the 4th century. In 1821 Honduras gained independence from Spain and became part of the Mexican empire. Since then, it has experienced many different political influences, both from within and without its country. Three and a half years ago, we met Roger Hurtibuse, a remarkable individual who serves in Honduras on a full-time basis.