Juticalpa, Olancho

Juticalpa

Overlooking Barrio El Centro from La Cruz
Juticalpa
Coordinates: 14°39′59″N 86°13′07″W / 14.66639°N 86.21861°W / 14.66639; -86.21861Coordinates: 14°39′59″N 86°13′07″W / 14.66639°N 86.21861°W / 14.66639; -86.21861
Country  Honduras
Departament Olancho
Government
 • Alcalde (Mayor) Ramón Sarmiento
Area
 • City 2,606 km2 (1,006 sq mi)
Elevation 410 m (1,350 ft)
Population (2015)
 • City 129,875
 • Density 50/km2 (130/sq mi)
 • Urban 33,260
Climate Aw

Juticalpa (Spanish pronunciation: [xutiˈkalpa]) is the capital of Olancho Department in Honduras. Situated in a broad river valley alongside the Rio Juticalpa, the town is a commercial centre for much of Olancho's ranching and agricultural economy.

Geography

The Juticalpa area encompases the Guayape River valley, bordered by the Sierra de Agalta range. Among the most notable of the small villages in the area is La Concepción and La Empalizada. The nearest town is Catacamas 30 miles to the North East.

Climate

The climate is significantly warmer than Tegucigalpa or nearby Campamento because of the Valle de Juticalpa's elevation. Several thunderstorms occur during the period of May through September (wet season). October, November and December are cooler and often cloudy with drizzle. From January through April, the region receives very little rain (Dry Season). During this season field fires are often observed, some are intentionally created due to an old unlawful practice for renewing crops, and others are the result of severe heat or arson; these fires create a thick blanket of smoke that settles over the Juticalpa Valley for almost a month. The air improves after the first rain. During the rainy season, the incidence of dengue fever is quite high due to the many mud puddles that become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Layout

The town is divided into twelve major neighbourhoods called Barrios or "Colonias": Barrio El Centro, Barrio de Jesús, Barrio Calona, Barrio La Hoya, Barrio Belén, Colonia San Miguel, Barrio El Portillo, Barrio El Campo, Colonia El Campo Uno, Colonia El Campo Dos, Barrio El Cementerio, Barrio El Chicle and Barrio de la Cruz. The majority of town lies on a gradual slope on the southwestern side of the Juticalpa river. There are many smaller communities in the surrounding area. Juticalpa's sister city, Catacamas, is located at the easternmost terminus of the paved Olancho highway.

The Boulevard Los Poetas connects Barrio El Centro to the Olancho highway and receives Honduran intercity bus traffic. The main bus station is located at the beginning of the "Boulevard Los Poetas" and several bus companies serve all of Olancho's 23 counties or "municipios". Two bus companies, Discovery and Aurora, send regular and executive service buses to Tegucigalpa and Catacamas.

Juticalpa also has two public parks, Parque Central located in Barrio El Centro with the cathedral dedicated to the Virgin of Concepción on one side, and the city hall (alcaldía) on the opposite side. The second smaller park Parque Infantil is located in Barrio Belén across the Santa Clara school.

Remnants of pre-Columbian civilisations can be found occasionally in Barrio Belén.[1]

Economy

Juticalpa's economy is primarily agricultural and commercial. Olancho's wide, fertile river valleys support maize, cattle and dairy farms. Queso Olanchano a hard and salty cheese, and "Mantequilla Crema" white cream, are produced in great quantities at several dairies and exported throughout the country and the Central American Region. Because of its proximity to successful farms and its position on the only paved highway in Olancho, Juticalpa's economy has led to relative prosperity.

Despite its strong agricultural base, unemployment in Juticalpa is high. To support themselves, many citizens of Juticalpa run small stores called pulperías where they sell household items and food stores to neighbours.

Juticalpa contains a number of small businesses, many restaurants (ranging from taco stands to dine-in establishments with air conditioning), a hospital donated by the Japanese government, medical clinics, a cinema called Cine Maya, and a number of public and private schools. The local economy has grown by leaps and bounds over the past fifteen years, lately leading to a strong presence of banking representations. Several ATMs can be found across town and bank branches open Monday through Saturday. A new mall opened at the beginning of Boulevard Los Poetas, and four fully supplied supermarkets are well distributed across town. Recent road paving projects were finished in Barrio El Centro and Barrio de Jesús, but most of the town peripheral streets remain unpaved.

The area serves as transit for the tourists headed to The Sierra de Agalta National Park, and for tourists visiting The Cuevas de Talgua, limestone caves containing the calcified phosphorescent remains of ancient inhabitants of the area.

In Honduras, Juticalpa is most famous for the production of an alcoholic palm Coyol tree wine known as coyol wine. Residents knock down palm trees in the middle of the dry season (March and April) and enjoy the wine at the sites, or transport the effervescent beverage in plastic bottles. The easiest place to find the drink is in the village of La Concepción, a few kilometres west of Juticalpa on the highway to Tegucigalpa.

Education

The city is served by various public and private schools, high schools and universities.

City fair

Juticalpa's fair is celebrated on 8–14 December and is dedicated to "The Virgin of Concepción". During this period several activities take place across the city's main streets, at the Parque Central and at the AGAO "Asociación de Ganaderos y Agricultores de Olancho".

Gastronomy

Being the commercial centre of Olancho, Juticalpa is able to offer a variety of local cuisine based on fresh produce, dairy and meat. Typical dishes include Carne Asada (one of the best offered in the country), the renowned Tapado Olanchano, Yuca con Chicharrón, Baleadas, Tacos, Tajaditas, Enchiladas, Pastelitos de Carne, and other local delicacies. Rosquillas, quesadillas and hojaldras are corn and cheese based; due to the extensive cheese resources, and the high production of corn in the area, the best are found in Juticalpa, specifically in the village of La Concepción. In late years tilapia farms have been a success in the area, giving way to popularity and availability of fresh tilapia fish in many of Juticalpa's restaurants.

People from Juticalpa

References

  1. ↑ Humphrey, Chris. Moon Handbooks: Honduras
  2. ↑ Froylán Turcios
  3. ↑ Janet N. Gold (30 April 2009). Culture and Customs of Honduras. ABC-CLIO. pp. 95–98. ISBN 978-0-313-34180-9.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Juticalpa.
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