Located in Central America between Guatemala and Nicaragua, Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. The country gained its independence from Spain in 1821 and has experienced many political upheavals in leadership. The majority of the country is mountainous, and its climate is subtropical. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated the country, killing more than 5,600 people, leaving tens of thousands missing or homeless, and causing billions of dollars' worth of damage. Honduras is an accessible, highly illustrated resource that explores the people, culture, history, geography, environment, economy, and government of this struggling nation.