San Rafael, Lempira
Encyclopedia
San Rafael is a municipality
in the Honduran
department of Lempira.
San Rafael is one of the farthest municipalities of the Lempira department of Honduras
. The best way to get to the municipality capital is via Santa Bárbara
department, passing by El Nispero
and San Jeronimo municipalities of this department.
municipality, and until July 17, 1900 it was granted the category of municipality, in the administration of President Terencio Sierra.
and La Unión
, first passing by the "Puca" mountain and then some other steep mountains. The main disadvantage of this 2nd way is that the road needs to be repaired.The views of the coffee plantations are just awesome, and so are the rest of the landscapes provided by the big and steep mountains mentioned earlier in this article, this includes the views to Santa Bárbara department. The hospitality of its inhabitants is another feature, a proof of this is the sign that says: "En San Rafael, Nadie es Extraño", meaning: "In San Rafael, Nobody is a stranger". There are some groceries stores and one hostel, but it is not a recommendable place to stay in.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in the Honduran
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
department of Lempira.
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. The best way to get to the municipality capital is via Santa Bárbara
Santa Bárbara (department)
Santa Bárbara is one of the 18 departments into which the Central American nation of Honduras is divided.The departmental capital is Santa Bárbara.The department covers a total surface area of 5,115...
department, passing by El Nispero
El Nispero
El Níspero is a municipality in the Honduran department of Santa Bárbara....
and San Jeronimo municipalities of this department.
History
In the census of 1887 it appears with the name of "El Conal" village, of La IgualaLa Iguala
La Iguala is a municipality in the Honduran department of Lempira.La Iguala is one of the oldest municipalities of the Lempira department. The municipality capital is also known as "La Iguala Centro". The access to this town is quite a challenge. Both ways will be briefly described here...
municipality, and until July 17, 1900 it was granted the category of municipality, in the administration of President Terencio Sierra.
Geography
In order to get to the municipality capital it is necessary to go up and down through very steep mountains. The vegetation changes as going up and down these mountains, but the Pine forests are predominant. In a few cases there can be seen spots of different kinds of trees, their purpose is to provide shade to the coffee plantations. The weather is mostly cool, except in summer. Since it is relatively near the "Lago de Yojoa" area, the precipitation is a little higher than the rest of the department.Boundaries
Its boundaries are:- North : La UniónLa Unión, LempiraLa Unión is a municipality in the Honduran department of Lempira.It is one of the smallest municipalities of the Lempira department; travel to La Unión is a challenge. One way is to go 75 km from Gracias city on the common road for La Iguala and San Rafael, about 3 km before San Rafael is a left...
municipality and Santa Bárbara department. - South : La IgualaLa IgualaLa Iguala is a municipality in the Honduran department of Lempira.La Iguala is one of the oldest municipalities of the Lempira department. The municipality capital is also known as "La Iguala Centro". The access to this town is quite a challenge. Both ways will be briefly described here...
municipality. - East : Santa Bárbara department.
- West : La IgualaLa IgualaLa Iguala is a municipality in the Honduran department of Lempira.La Iguala is one of the oldest municipalities of the Lempira department. The municipality capital is also known as "La Iguala Centro". The access to this town is quite a challenge. Both ways will be briefly described here...
municipality.
- Surface Extents: 101 km²
Resources
The most important activity is coffee plantations. Beans and Corn crops are next, but mostly for local consumption as well as raising cattle. It is worth mentioning that there are a few handcrafts producers of several things such as hats,"petates"(some sort of a carpet) of reed. They obtain the water from wells and some streams nearby. As does the rest of the department it has electricity and mobile communication services. The bus services are more common for Santa Barbara.Population
In the case of San Rafael, the cross-breed take the 80 % of the population, with many people showing white skin. The rest is occupied for Indian descendants.- Population:For the year 2001 this municipality had 10,468 people, this figure was the base for an estimate, and the result for 2008 is the figure of 12,347 people.
- Villages: 9
- Settlements: 53
Tourism
It takes about 2.5 hours to get there from the city of Santa Barbara and the road is in much better conditions. The other way is via the city of Gracias, and it is about 60 km from it. It is necessary to take the common road to La IgualaLa Iguala
La Iguala is a municipality in the Honduran department of Lempira.La Iguala is one of the oldest municipalities of the Lempira department. The municipality capital is also known as "La Iguala Centro". The access to this town is quite a challenge. Both ways will be briefly described here...
and La Unión
La Unión, Lempira
La Unión is a municipality in the Honduran department of Lempira.It is one of the smallest municipalities of the Lempira department; travel to La Unión is a challenge. One way is to go 75 km from Gracias city on the common road for La Iguala and San Rafael, about 3 km before San Rafael is a left...
, first passing by the "Puca" mountain and then some other steep mountains. The main disadvantage of this 2nd way is that the road needs to be repaired.The views of the coffee plantations are just awesome, and so are the rest of the landscapes provided by the big and steep mountains mentioned earlier in this article, this includes the views to Santa Bárbara department. The hospitality of its inhabitants is another feature, a proof of this is the sign that says: "En San Rafael, Nadie es Extraño", meaning: "In San Rafael, Nobody is a stranger". There are some groceries stores and one hostel, but it is not a recommendable place to stay in.
- Local Holidays: "San Rafael" day on September 29.
External links