Tela

Tela on the map of Honduras

Tela is a town in Honduras on the northern coast of the Caribbean Sea and is located in the department of Atlantida. In the vicinity there are three national parks, including one in Lancetilla and the Jeanette Kawas - National Park.

History

Tela was founded on 3 May 1524 by the conquistador Cristóbal de Olid. Due to the date, which is regarded as the day of the Holy Cross in the Catholic religion, the city was " baptized " in Triunfo de la Cruz. However, the name was quite long, so he was soon abbreviated as T.de la and in 1829 the name was changed in Tela. The name Triunfo de la Cruz was obtained only for a small hill which empties into the Caribbean. Originally the city was founded near an Indian community called Cucumba in which there was good drinking water, food, medicinal plants and other life-enhancing things. The natives lived in large houses were built on stilts and were knowledgeable pilots in the Gulf of Honduras.

At the end of the 16th century, the Bay of Tela was often plagued by pirates who attacked Spanish ships targeted. These were export goods, often gold, for Spain on board and were therefore an interesting target.

The Garifuna, an ethnic group with African descent, were captured in 1797 by the Spaniards on the island of St. Vincent and exposed on the island of Roatan. Later they were moved to Trujillo from where they spread out along the coast. In 1808 they settled in Tela where they founded their own down communities. One of these communities was east of the El Triunfo hills, which they named Triunfo de la Cruz and another west community called San Juan.

Between 1860 and 1900, the economy was based on the banana crop. However, this business was operated only in the small. In the years 1900 to 1912 licenses were issued by the government, which improved the economic situation in Tela. The third stage of economic development started in 1912 with the award of the concession of land to the Tela Railroad Company, which monopolized the banana plantations. This period ended in 1976 with the relocation of the headquarters of the Tela Railroad Company of Tela to La Lima. Since there is a continuous development in tourism, in cattle farms and agriculture.

The old town of Tela consists of colonial houses from the time of the Spanish occupiers. There is a square with a church, town hall and a school. In Tela Nueva, where the banana company operating their business and bustle, it is the old railway building and the building in which the business leaders were staying.

Culture

San Antonio is the patron saint of Tela. In his honor every year in June for a week held parades and much celebrated.

Tela is the most popular beach in Honduras. In the week between Palm Sunday and Easter, thousands of young Hondurans come to party, drink and just lying on the beach to Tela.

Garifuna villages

Radius Tela there are many villages of the ethnic group of the Garifuna. The Garifuna are an ethnic group of African descent and be found along the coast of Tela, but also in many other Central American countries. They are found in the area around Tela Tela, Ensenada, Punta del Triunfo de la Cruz, Tornabé and San Juan.

Twinning

• Mexico Cancun, Mexico
• Honduras La Ceiba, Honduras

Sons and daughters of the town

• Ebert Van Buren ( * 1924), U.S. American football player
• Fabio Ulloa (born 1976 ), football player