Honduras is a Central American nation bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north and a small Pacific coast to the south, with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua as neighbors. Its diverse geography includes extensive highlands, rainforests, and a Caribbean barrier reef system, while its capital is Tegucigalpa. The country's history includes Spanish colonization and independence in 1821, followed by periods of military rule and democratic government, but it continues to face challenges such as poverty, gang violence, and economic instability.