The Lancetilla Botanic Garden, called "The Green Treasure of Honduras" is the only one of its kind in Honduras and the second largest in Latin America. It is located in the northern part of Honduras, just 5 kilometers from the city of Tela. The garden has a territorial extension of 16.81 km², and is divided into three important areas. Because of the extensive experimental natural collections it possesses, Lancetilla is considered the "Plant Sanctuary" of America. Lancetilla was created by Horticultor Dr. Wilson Popenoe in 1926, as a Tropical Plant Research Center.