The Islas de la Bahia region
Islas de la Bahía ("Bay Islands") is one of the 18 departments into which the Central American nation of Honduras is divided. The islands boast splendid
beaches and unspoilt coral reefs, making them a haven for scuba divers and vacationers.
The departmental capital is Roatán. The department covers a total surface area of 261 km² and, in 2005, had an estimated population of 43,018 people.
Islas de la Bahía comprises the islands of Roatán, Guanaja, Utila, Barbareta, the Cochinos Cays, and several smaller islets.
Each of the three main islands has a distinct character. Utila is flat, a backpacker paradise, and ringed by spectacular coral reefs. Scuba divers flock
to the island, as it is one of the cheapest places on Earth to be PADI certified, and the magnificent yet gentle whale shark swims in the waters off
the island. Roatán, the largest island, has a mountainous backbone and splendid beaches and resorts that attract tourists from all over the world.
Guanaja, hit hard by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, is covered with Caribbean pine trees and remains relatively undeveloped. Guanaja, visited by Christopher
Columbus in 1502, was also a hideout for 17th-century buccaneers, who grew rich by attacking gold-laden Spanish galleons. Regular airline and ferry
services link the islands with the city of La Ceiba, on the mainland................
Adopted from and read more at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Islands_department |
