Roatán is the largest of three islands located in the Caribbean Sea called the “Bay Islands”, or “Las Islas de la Bahía”. The are located approximately 40 miles off the north coast of Honduras in Central America. Roatán is 40 miles long and 5 miles wide at its widest point, with a mountain ridge reaching almost 900 feet above sea level.
It is home to 110,000 people (2020 statistics), comprised of various different cultures that have moved into the Bay Islands over the centuries. Prominent ethnicities include the indigenous Paya, and immigrants of Spanish, English and African origin, the latter including the Garifuna people who retained more of their African cultural roots.
Tourism is a major industry in Roatán, being home to the second largest coral reef in the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy greatly suffered due to the loss of tourism income.
The official language in Honduras, including Roatán, is Spanish, but English is spoken due to the influence of the British Empire who established a colony there in the 19th century.
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