Ocotepeque Department, Administrative department in western Honduras
Ocotepeque Department lies in western Honduras between El Salvador and Guatemala, covering about 1,636 square kilometers. The territory features mountainous terrain, river systems, and extensive pine forests throughout the landscape.
The National Assembly established Ocotepeque Department in 1906 through Decree 106, separating it from the neighboring Copán Department. This administrative division arose from the need to better manage the growing region.
The Chortí people have shaped this region for centuries, maintaining their connection to ancient Maya civilization. Their presence remains visible in local customs and how communities here organize daily life.
Nueva Ocotepeque serves as the administrative center, housing government services for the department's 16 municipalities. Visitors will find amenities and information there to help them explore the wider region.
The department encompasses parts of the Trifinio Fraternidad Biosphere Reserve, located where the borders of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador converge. This triple border point makes the region an important ecological junction in Central America.
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