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Hondures

LAND
More than three-fourths of the land area of Honduras is mountainous, lowlands being found only along the coasts and in the several river valleys that penetrate toward the interior. The interior takes the form of a dissected upland with numerous small peaks. The main surface features have a general east-west orientation. There is a narrow plain of alluvium bordering the Gulf of Fonseca in the south. The southwestern mountains, the Volcanic Highlands, consist of alternating layers of rock composed of dark, volcanic detritus and lava flows, both of Tertiary age.The northern mountains in other regions are more ancient, with granite and crystalline rocks predominating.

ECONOMY
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. Government plans seek to promote and expand the manufacturing sector, diversify agriculture, improve transportation facilities, and develop hydroelectric projects. In 1999 electricity production amounted to 3.3 billion kilowatt-hours, of which 65.56 percent was hydroelectric. The national budget in 1995 included $713 million in revenue and $591 million in expenditure. The gross domestic product, which measures the total value of goods and services produced, was $5.4 billion in 1999.
Honduras is a poor country, and the majority of Hondurans work under extremely difficult conditions. The government has, however, adopted more active economic policies since the mid-20th century. In 1954 striking banana workers led the trade union movement to one of its most resounding triumphs, which resulted in the promulgation of a labour code that is considered one of the most complete instruments of its kind in Latin America. The code has generally resulted in a higher standard of living for the worker and better operating conditions for business; labour laws are not always strictly applied, however, and some workplaces are substandard.
Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, is banking on expanded trade privileges under the...