Municipality of Gualaco
Gualaco is a municipality in the Olancho Department of Honduras.
History
The municipality of Gualaco was founded in the year 1657. In 1684, it had only 11 houses. In the population census of 1791, it belonged to the curate of Silca and was the district headquarters of León Alvarado. The exact founder of Gualaco is unknown, but it was initially called Gualala before changing its name to Gualaco. The name originates from an indigenous word of Aztec origin, meaning «In the Good Lands» or «Land Between Rivers.» In 1810, it obtained the status of a municipality.
By the year 1841, Gualaco had an estimated population of 570 men and 654 women, totaling 1,224 inhabitants.
Old documents mention the indigenous village of Gualaco, but they also mention Chindona, possibly the same «pueblo de Agalta,» as the largest remaining indigenous village in Honduras in 1582.
Gualaco has a rich cultural heritage with ruins and crafts that have disappeared in more modern towns, such as the clay work of the Boquerón hamlet.
Today, Gualaco has a history to share with the world, with settlements like Saguay, Jacaleapa, Magua, Susmay, and others. It also has rich potential in natural resources and plants like teosinte, abundant rivers, forests, caves, and more.
For this reason, the Municipal Corporation 2014-2018 declares September 30th as the municipality’s day, commemorating our patron saint, San Jerónimo. This declaration is recorded in the books of this municipality.
Location
Gualaco is located in the northeastern part of the Olancho department. It is the ninth-largest municipality nationwide and the fourth-largest at the departmental level. According to historical data and municipal authorities, Gualaco covers an area of 2,392.2 km². However, for the purposes of this work, calculations made by SINIT (National Territorial Information System) report a municipal territory area of 2,225.38 km², including an ejidal title of 5,600 hectares.
Of this, 67% is covered by pine forests, and the area claimed by San Esteban is considered, assuming that the municipal boundaries are the same for both cases as proposed by the municipality and by SINIT.
The political administration of Gualaco has an approximate population of 24,000 inhabitants. The urban center of Gualaco is located at an altitude of 680 meters above sea level, covering an area of approximately 14.2 km² with a population of 7,000 inhabitants. It is situated between the parallels 15º 00′ and 15º 25′ and the meridians 85º 50′ and 86º 00′ north of the Olancho department. Its boundaries are as follows:
- NORTH: Borders Olanchito in the Yoro department, Sabá and Tocoa in the Colón department.
- SOUTH: Borders San Francisco de La Paz, Santa María del Real, and Guarizama in the Olancho department.
- EAST: Borders San Esteban and Catacamas in the Olancho department.
- WEST: Borders Guata in the Olancho department.
Villages
- Gualaco
- Chindona
- Jicalapa
- La Boca
- La Venta
- Las Lomas
- Saguay
- San Antonio De Los Micos
- San Antonio de Pacura
- San Buenaventura
- Vargas
Topography
The topography of Gualaco consists of three levels of relief: plains or valleys, an intermediate zone comprising coniferous forests, and mountains or high-altitude cloud forests. Plains and valleys cover 59% of the territory, while slopes with gradients ranging from 0% to 30% make up 31% of the municipal area, primarily located in the central zone of Gualaco.
The intermediate zone is found in the northern and southern areas of the municipality, while the mountainous zone is located in the Sierra de Agalta and the Botaderos mountain. The mountainous areas are characterized by steep slopes and cover 10% of Gualaco’s surface.
This classification allows for the identification of different productive activities that can be developed in a specific territory. Gualaco’s topography is highly irregular, with plains and valleys predominating in 59% of the area, while the remaining 41% consists of mountainous and rugged terrain.
Flora and Fauna
The municipality of Gualaco exhibits a diverse range of ecosystems, resulting in a variety of plant and animal species. The vegetation cover is classified into three major groups: coniferous forests, broadleaf forests, and mixed forests.
Coniferous forests represent 40.8% of the territory, with significant concentrations in the areas of San Antonio and Chindona. Other villages with coniferous coverage include Vargas, San Antonio de Pacura, Jicalapa, and La Venta.
Broadleaf forests account for 23.49% of the municipality’s area and are primarily found in the villages of San Antonio de Pacura, San Buenaventura, and La Boca. Mixed forests represent 3.6% of the territory and are mainly located in the southern part of the municipality, in the villages of La Boca and San Pedro.
There is a significant diversity of fauna, including birds and mammals. However, the habitats of some species are being destroyed by shifting agriculture and extensive livestock farming. This situation is exacerbated by annual forest fires. Additionally, the fragmentation of corridors for species like pumas, tapirs, and jaguars has been observed, with local residents reporting a decrease in sightings between the Botaderos Mountain and the Jacaleapa Mountain.
Tourist Attractions
- Cuevas De Susmay
- La Picucha
- La Puzunca
- Montaña de Botaderos National Park
- Iglesia de San Buena Ventura, Virgen De La Luz
- Thermal Springs
- El Naranjal Archaeological Site
- Ruta del Teocinte, Saguay, Rio Grande, La Puzunca
- Las Orquídeas Ecological Park, El Ocotal No. 1
- Chorros de Babilonia
- Las Crucitas Ecological Park
