Orography of Atlantida

Department of Atlántida

Sierra Nombre de Dios: It is located between the departments of Yoro and Atlántida, extending its mountainous foothills to the department of Colón, the eastern part of Puerto Cortés. Its geographical location is determined between the 85′ 50″ and 87′ 50″ west longitude and 15′ 10″ and 15′ 16″ north latitude. Close to the coast and facing the city of Trujillo, you can find the mountains or peaks of Capiro and Calentura.

This sierra includes the mountains of Nombre de Dios, La Masica, Salitran, Tiburón, and Cangrejal, with the highest peak in the sierra being Pico Bonito.

Mountains

Pico Bonito, the Sierra Nombre de Dios, from which the Sierra del Tiburón and the Sierra de Las Flores branch off. In La Ceiba, parallel to the beach, runs a branch of the Montecillos mountain range, forming the heights of Cabeza de Vaca, El Porvenir, Corinto, Pico de Bonitillo, Pico de La Ceiba or El Cangrejal, and Papaloteca. In El Porvenir, there is Cerro Salado, Montaña de Los Indios, and Cerro Bonito. In San Francisco, there are the mountains of Salado and Jimerito.

Mountains of El Tiburón: This mountain is located to the west of the Lean River and branches off from the Sierra Nombre de Dios, just like the mountain of Las Flores. In La Ceiba, parallel to the beach, runs a branch of the Montecillos mountain range, forming the heights of Cabeza de Vaca, El Porvenir, Corinto, Pico Bonitillo, Pico de La Ceiba or El Cangrejal, and Papaloteca. In San Francisco, there are the mountains of Salado and Jimerito.

Hills

In El Porvenir, there are the hills of Salado and Bonito. In La Ceiba, you can find the hills of El Triunfo (95 meters above sea level), Izopo (79 meters above sea level), Hornito, Higuerito (2,265 meters above sea level), Cangrejal (1,299 meters above sea level), Los Indios, and Búfalo. In Jutiapa, there are the hills of Filo del Tigre (910 meters above sea level) and Brujo (820 meters above sea level). In the Yaruca circuit, you can find the hill of Ucles, and in the Salitran mountain (449 meters above sea level) between the communities of Agua Dulce, Roma, and Agua Caliente.

Sierras: Nombre de Dios.

Climate: The climate of Atlántida is a tropical rainforest climate in the coastal plain, characterized by high temperatures throughout the year, ranging from 24°C to 27°C, and annual rainfall of up to 2,000 mm. In the northwestern area of the coast, the Lancetilla Botanical Garden has recorded the highest rainfall at 3,392 mm.

In the higher elevation areas to the south, a tropical forest climate predominates. Unlike the coastal plain, this area receives less rainfall, especially during certain parts of the year, particularly the cooler months. The average monthly mean temperatures never drop below 18°C, and the rainy season occurs in autumn, during the months of September, October, and November.

Topography: The topography of Atlántida presents, in the north, an extensive coastline with low and rugged shores, including coastal lagoons that open to the sea. The most significant feature is the Bay of Tela, with its western end at Punta Sal in the municipality of Tela, and its eastern end at Izopo (or Obispo) between the municipalities of Esparta and Arizona. To the south, the interior becomes more rugged, coinciding with the coastal branch of the Sierra Nombre de Dios, which runs from east to west. The component mountains of this range have various names, including Cangrejal, Salitral, and Tiburón.

The mountain of Corozal, which is also part of this sierra, culminates in Pico Bonito at an altitude of 2,453 meters. Along the coast, there is a coastal plain that meets the sea, with its wide beaches.

To the west lies the Lean Valley, and to the center is the La Masica Valley.