Puerto Castilla, Honduras facts for kids
Puerto Castilla is a small village in the Colón Department of Honduras. It is located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Trujillo. This village sits right on the Caribbean Sea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean.
Long ago, Puerto Castilla was an important port city. It was home to a big banana farm run by the United Fruit Company. They grew and shipped a type of banana called Gros Michel. However, in the late 1930s, a plant sickness called 'Panama disease' attacked the banana plants' roots. This caused the company to close its operations there.
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A Port with History
In the 1940s, the village and its people moved a bit to the east. This happened because a small naval base was built there. It was a base for PBY Catalina seaplanes. These were special airplanes that could land on water.
World War II Role
During World War II, this seaplane base was very important. It helped with military operations, like watching over the sea. It worked with the base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. People thought German naval forces might attack the Panama Canal. So, bases like Puerto Castilla were on high alert.
Remaining Old Buildings
Today, you can still see some parts of the past. An old hospital building is there, but the Honduran Navy has fixed it up. It is now used as an education center. There is also an old barracks building. These are the last signs of the old United Fruit Company.
Life in Puerto Castilla Today
Today, Puerto Castilla is a quiet fishing village. About 600 people live there. West of the village, there is a Honduran naval base. There is also a modern port for the Dole company. This port ships fresh fruit products.
Modern Agriculture
The area around Puerto Castilla is now covered with large farms. These farms grow African Oil Palm trees. These trees are used to make palm oil.
Future Possibilities
Puerto Castilla is located on the south side of a peninsula. This peninsula protects Trujillo Bay. The port here is very deep, which means big ships can easily come and go. Because of this, Puerto Castilla could become a much bigger port for Honduras in the future.
Restricted Access
The port area is now controlled by the Honduran Port Authority. There is a fence and a guarded entrance. This means you cannot just walk into the port area freely.
Notable People
Leigh Richardson was an important person in the early Belizean independence movement. He was born in Puerto Castilla in 1924. He worked to help Belize become an independent country.
