Choluteca, Choluteca

Choluteca
Nickname(s): Cholu
Choluteca
Coordinates: 13°18′10″N 87°11′00″W / 13.30278°N 87.18333°W / 13.30278; -87.18333Coordinates: 13°18′10″N 87°11′00″W / 13.30278°N 87.18333°W / 13.30278; -87.18333
Country  Honduras
Departament Choluteca
Municipality Choluteca
Founded 1522
Villa Title 1585
City Title 1845
Government
 • Type Democratic Municipality
 • Mayor Quintín Soriano
 • Vice-Mayor Martha Margarita Oyuela
Area
 • Total 4,360 km2 (1,680 sq mi)
Abbreviation Cholu

Choluteca is a municipality and the capital city of the Honduran department of the same name. Situated in southern Honduras between El Salvador and Nicaragua, the city is generally considered the regional centre of southern Honduras and is a major transit point on the Pan-American Highway. It boasts a major bus station and is home to the regional light (ENEE) and water (SANAA) utilities. The city is located on the Choluteca River,[1] near the centre of the department. An arching silver bridge crosses the river into the city.

Choluteca's population of around 100,000 makes either the fourth- or fifth-largest city in the country, depending on the source. It is the only major Honduran city on the Pan-American Highway. It is considered to be the second-hottest city in Honduras after Nacaome.

History

The city was originally founded in colonial Honduras in 1522 as Villa de Jerez de Choluteca. It received city status in 1845.

Entering Choluteca across the river

Choluteca was heavily damaged by flooding from Hurricane Mitch in 1998. It received more rainfall than any other place affected by the storm – 36 inches in only a few days. This is the amount of rain the city normally receives in 212 days. In addition, the Choluteca River swelled to six times its normal width, putting entire neighbourhoods under water temporarily.[1] Many villages and suburbs, like Stevensville, were badly damaged, suffering immense property losses and a high number of deaths.

Choluteca is one of the most productive areas of Honduras. The department raises commodity crops of sugar, cantaloupe, watermelon, okra, and sweet potato. It also harvests shrimp and fish, and produces salt, and a few precious metals.

José Cecilio del Valle, the first President of Central America, was born in Choluteca in 1780. His house (Casa Valle, located on the main square) is now a cultural centre housing the local library and a tourist centre. The house is featured on the back of the 100-lempira note.

Dania Prince, Miss Earth 2003 and the only Honduran to win a grandslam beauty pageant, came from Choluteca.

Climate

Climate data for Choluteca, Choluteca (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 36.8
(98.2)		 37.7
(99.9)		 39.0
(102.2)		 39.6
(103.3)		 38.7
(101.7)		 36.0
(96.8)		 36.5
(97.7)		 36.5
(97.7)		 35.1
(95.2)		 34.7
(94.5)		 35.6
(96.1)		 36.0
(96.8)		 39.6
(103.3)
Average high °C (°F) 34.6
(94.3)		 35.7
(96.3)		 36.7
(98.1)		 35.1
(95.2)		 35.1
(95.2)		 33.1
(91.6)		 34.1
(93.4)		 34.1
(93.4)		 32.6
(90.7)		 32.6
(90.7)		 33.5
(92.3)		 34.3
(93.7)		 34.3
(93.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 28.6
(83.5)		 29.2
(84.6)		 30.1
(86.2)		 30.5
(86.9)		 29.2
(84.6)		 28.1
(82.6)		 28.8
(83.8)		 28.6
(83.5)		 27.4
(81.3)		 27.6
(81.7)		 28.1
(82.6)		 28.4
(83.1)		 28.7
(83.7)
Average low °C (°F) 23.1
(73.6)		 23.0
(73.4)		 23.5
(74.3)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.2
(75.6)		 23.4
(74.1)		 23.8
(74.8)		 23.6
(74.5)		 22.9
(73.2)		 22.8
(73)		 22.7
(72.9)		 23.0
(73.4)		 23.4
(74.1)
Record low °C (°F) 19.7
(67.5)		 20.0
(68)		 20.4
(68.7)		 21.8
(71.2)		 21.7
(71.1)		 21.6
(70.9)		 21.2
(70.2)		 21.1
(70)		 21.2
(70.2)		 21.1
(70)		 20.5
(68.9)		 19.6
(67.3)		 19.6
(67.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 2.0
(0.079)		 5.2
(0.205)		 7.5
(0.295)		 31.0
(1.22)		 286.2
(11.268)		 267.3
(10.524)		 139.4
(5.488)		 244.6
(9.63)		 358.7
(14.122)		 275.6
(10.85)		 77.2
(3.039)		 8.5
(0.335)		 1,703.2
(67.055)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 0 1 8 3 13 17 10 14 20 15 4 1 106
Mean monthly sunshine hours 292.9 272.0 291.2 242.7 235.6 211.1 232.6 234.3 194.8 233.3 246.1 274.2 2,960.8
Source: NOAA[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Honduras – Geografía y Población". FAO. 2000. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  2. ↑ "Choluteca Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
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