The flag of Honduras consists of three equal horizontal stripes of turquoise blue, white and the same shade of blue, with five turquoise stars arranged in a quincuncial pattern at the centre of the middle stripe. The two outer bands represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and also represent the blue sky and brotherhood. The two outer bands represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and also represent the blue sky and brotherhood. The five stars represent the five nations of the former Federal Republic of Central America and the hope that the nations may form a union again. On 7 March 1866 five blue stars were placed on the flag to represent the five original provinces: El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala.