Choluteca, Choluteca
| Choluteca | |
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| Nickname: Cholu | |
  Choluteca
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  Honduras |
| Departament | Choluteca |
| Municipality | Choluteca |
| Founded | 1502 |
| Villa Title | 1585 |
| City Title | 1845 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Democratic Municipality |
| - Mayor | Quintín Soriano |
| - Vice-Mayor | Enrique Weddle |
| Area | |
| - Total | 4,360 km² (1,683.4 sq mi) |
Choluteca is a municipality and the capital city of the Honduran department of the same name. Situated in southern Honduras between El Salvador and Nicaragua, the city is generally considered the regional center of southern Honduras and is a major transit point on the Pan-American Highway. It boasts a major bus station and is home to the regional light (ENEE) and water (SANAA) utilities. The city is located on the Choluteca River, near the center of the department. An arching silver bridge crosses the river into the city. The bridge, built in the 1930s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, survived Hurricane Mitch, although the road it was connected to did not.
Choluteca's population of around 100,000 makes either the fourth or fifth largest city in the country, depending on the source. It is also the only major Honduran city on the Pan-American Highway. It is considered to be the second hottest city in Honduras after Nacaome.
The city was originally founded in colonial Honduras in 1522 as Villa de Jerez de Choluteca. It received city status in 1845.
Choluteca was heavily damaged by flooding from Hurricane Mitch in 1998. It received more rainfall than any other place affected by the storm - 36 inches in only a few days. This is the amount of rain the city normally receives in 212 days. In addition, the Choluteca River swelled to six times its normal width, putting entire neighborhoods under water temporarily.
Choluteca is one of the most productive areas of Honduras. In the department they produce and export sugar, cantaloupe, watermelon, okra, shrimp, sweet potato, salt, fish, and a few precious metals.
José Cecilio del Valle, the first President of Central America, was born in Choluteca in 1780. His house (Casa Valle - located on the main square) is now a cultural center housing the local library and a tourist center. The house is featured on the back of the 100 Lempira note.
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