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Honduras

long (644 kilometer) Caribbean coastline and a tiny 77 mile (124 km) Pacific coastline. The Caribbean Bay Islands and further northeast, the distant Swan Islands, are both part of Honduran territory. Three-quarters of Honduras is composed of rugged hills and moun- tains, ranging from 984 to 9,348 feet (300 to 2,850 meters) in height. Lowlands are found only along the coasts and in major river valleys. Deforestation is occurring at a rate of 1,170 square miles (3,000 sq. km.) a year because of a demand for beef. Farmers cut down forests to create grassland for grazing. If this continues, Honduras will become a muddy, cloud forest— a wet, tropical forest that has clouds surrounding it even in the dry sea- son. colonial— having to do with one country using the resources of another. erosion— the act of wearing away, usually dirt or rocks. lagoon— a coastal body of shallow water formed where low-lying rock, sand, or coral presents a partial barrier to the open sea. lumbering— to cut down the trees in a region and convert them into saleable lumber. mangrove— tropical tree that has an extensive root system and is important to land- building. pesticide— a chemical substance used to kill pests, especially insects. savanna— a flat grassland, sometimes with scattered trees, in a tropical or subtropical region. sorghum— a cereal plant that is resistant to drought, widely cultivated in tropical and warm areas as a grain crop and for animal feed. topographical— how land is shown on maps. Words to Understand in this Chapter