Juticalpa, Olancho

Juticalpa
Overlooking Barrio El Centro from La Cruz
Juticalpa
Coordinates: 14°39′59″N 86°13′07″W / 14.66639°N 86.21861°W / 14.66639; -86.21861Coordinates: 14°39′59″N 86°13′07″W / 14.66639°N 86.21861°W / 14.66639; -86.21861
Country	Honduras
Departament	Olancho
Government
• Alcalde (Mayor)	Ramón Sarmiento
Area
• City	2,606 km2 (1,006 sq mi)
Elevation	410 m (1,350 ft)
Population (2015)
• City	129,875
• Density	50/km2 (130/sq mi)
• Urban	33,260
Climate	Aw

Juticalpa (Spanish pronunciation: [xutiˈkalpa]) is the capital of Olancho Department in Honduras. Situated in a broad river valley alongside the Rio Juticalpa, the town is a commercial centre for much of Olancho's ranching and agricultural economy.

Its Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, devoted to the immaculate Conception, is the cathedral episcopal see of the suffragan Roman Catholic Diocese of Juticalpa.

The Juticalpa area encompasses the Guayape River valley, bordered by the Sierra de Agalta range.

Among the most notable of the small villages in the area is La Concepción and La Empalizada. The nearest town is Catacamas, 30 miles to the northeast.

The climate is significantly warmer than Tegucigalpa or nearby Campamento because of the Valle de Juticalpa's elevation. Several thunderstorms occur during the period of May through September (wet season). October, November and December are cooler and often cloudy with drizzle. From January through April, the region receives very little rain (Dry Season). During this season field fires are often observed, some are intentionally created due to an old unlawful practice for renewing crops, and others are the result of severe heat or arson; these fires create a thick blanket of smoke that settles over the Juticalpa Valley for almost a month. The air improves after the first rain. During the rainy season, the incidence of dengue fever is quite high due to the many mud puddles that become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

The town is divided into twelve major neighbourhoods, called Barrios or "Colonias": Barrio El Centro, Barrio de Jesús, Barrio Calona, Barrio La Hoya, Barrio Belén, Colonia San Miguel, Barrio El Portillo, Barrio El Campo, Colonia El Campo Uno, Colonia El Campo Dos, Barrio El Cementerio, Barrio El Chicle and Barrio de la Cruz. The majority of town lies on a gradual slope on the southwestern side of the Juticalpa river. There are many smaller communities in the surrounding area. Juticalpa's sister city, Catacamas, is located at the easternmost terminus of the paved Olancho highway.