Celaque National Park, National park in Lempira Department, Honduras.
Celaque National Park is a protected massif of cloud forest and steep slopes in the departments of Lempira, Ocotepeque and Copán, western Honduras. Its summit, Cerro Las Minas or Pico Celaque, reaches about 2,870 metres, the country's highest point, and is ringed by some seven peaks enclosing a large plateau. The core zone covers 14,521 hectares within a total park area of 26,378 hectares.
The Honduran government established the park in 1987 to protect the region from growing population pressure and deforestation. The creation aimed to safeguard the rainforest that supplies water to many surrounding communities.
The name Celaque comes from the now-extinct Lenca language and is reputed to mean "box of waters", referring to the rivers that flow from the mountain. Around the park, Lenca communities keep the ancestral custom of eating wild mushrooms called choras; more than 19 species are consumed, among them the Juanillas (Amanita caesarea) and Chequecas (Lactarius indigo).
Five marked trails lead through the grounds to three camping areas, and a visitor center offers information and basic facilities. The hikes require good fitness, as the paths are steep and weather can change quickly.
The endemic salamander Bolitoglossa celaque lives here, found only in these mountains. Nineteen varieties of wild mushrooms grow in the forest and are gathered and eaten by nearby villagers.
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