Islas de la Bahía ("Bay Islands") is one of the 18 departments (departamentos) into which the Central American nation of Honduras is divided. Central America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. ...

The departmental capital is Roatán.

The department covers a total surface area of 261 km² and, in 1991, had an estimated population of 24,000. Islas de la Bahía comprises the islands of Roatán, Guanaja, Utila, Barbaretta, the Cochinos Cays, and several smaller islets.

Municipalities

Islas de la Bahía department is divided into four municipalities (municipios):

1. Guanaja
2. José Santos Guardiola
3. Roatán
4. Útila

Guanaja is one of the Bay Islands of Honduras, and is in the Caribbean. ...

History

The Bay Islands were first discovered by Columbus on his fourth voyage to America in 1502. They were later claimed, and successively held, by Great Britain, Spain, and the Dutch United Provinces. Britain finally took control in 1643 and, with the exception of a one-month period of Spanish dominance in 1780, held onto them as a Crown colony, dependent on Jamaica. In 1860, in the aftermath of the William Walker filibustering affair, the British crown recognized Honduran sovereignty and ceded possession of them. The department of Islas de la Bahía was officially incorporated into the nation on 14 March 1872. Columbus is a latinized version of the Italian surname Colombo, which means Dove. ... Events January 1 - Portuguese explorers sailed into Guanabra Bay, Brazil and mistook it for the mouth of a river which they named Rio de Janeiro May 9 - Christopher Columbus leaves Spain for his fourth and final trip to the New World. May 21 - Portuguese discover island of St Helena. ... This article is about the Dutch United Provinces. ... Events January 21 - Abel Tasman discovers Tonga February 6 - Abel Tasman discovers the Fiji islands. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... William Walker William Walker (May 8, 1824 - September 12, 1860) was a U.S. physician, lawyer, journalist, adventurer, and soldier of fortune who attempted to conquer several Latin American countries in the mid-19th century. ... For the legislative tactic, see filibuster (legislative tactic). ... March 14 is the 73rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (74th in Leap years) with 292 days remaining in the year. ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The English language is still the main language on the islands, contrary to the Spanish language of mainland Honduras. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ...

Departments of Honduras
Atlántida | Choluteca | Colón | Comayagua | Copán | Cortés | El Paraíso | Francisco Morazán | Gracias a Dios | Intibucá | Islas de la Bahía | La Paz | Lempira | Ocotepeque | Olancho | Santa Bárbara | Valle | Yoro