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Nicaragua Travel |
Nicaragua VulcanosNicaragua is a land where seismic activity is a part of every day life. There are active volcanoes as well as dormant ones, and there is always a risk for earthquakes. If you look at map, you can see how the Nicaragua volcanoes runs like a pearly necklace from north to south along the western side of the country. The Nicaragua volcanoes invite you to hike through cloud forests, swim in crater lakes and take in the pungent fumes of still active fumaroles. Below is a small sample of three different Nicaragua volcanoes – all with their own characteristics and inimitable charm. Nicaragua volcanoes – MombachoMombacho is a stratovolcano, which means that it consists of numerous layers of lava, tephra and volcanic ash. Mombacho is found near Granada in Lake Nicaragua. The nearby islands, known as “Las Isletas” and a popular site for birdwatchers, were most likely formed during one of Mombacho's eruptions. Today, Mombacho is often considered dormant, but it had its last eruption in 1570 and a few hundred years is not a long time when it comes to geology. Mombacho is 1,344 meters high and there are several good hiking trails. It is considered one of the most easily accessible Nicaragua volcanoes. There is a major road all the way to the entrance and there you will find a truck that continuously transports people up and down the volcano. A visit to Mombacho will allow you to sample several of the Nicaraguan forest types, from tropical dry forest and semideciduous forest to cloud forest and dwarf forest. The isolation from other cloudforest/rainforest habitats has lead to the development of a wide range of endemic species on Mombacho. Nicaragua volcanoes – MaderasMaderas is the southernmost volcano of all the Nicaragua volcanoes. Together with the Concepción volcano, it forms the island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. Maderas had its last eruption 3,000 years ago and the crater is today an enthralling lake. Climbing Maderas is quite difficult and there is no paved road to the crater lake. You can join a group or hire your own private guide. Maderas is not only famous for its natural scenery; you can also see ancient petroglyphs as you hike towards the top. Reaching the top will usually take 3-4 hours and descending Maderas will require at least this amount of time as well. Plan for a full day and bring water and food. Nicaragua volcanoes – Laguna de ApoyoLaguna de Apoyo is the name of a beautiful crate lake near Granada and Masaya. The lake is the result of an eruption that took place some 23,000 thousand years ago and formed a wide crater. The crater was then gradually filled with rainwater and is today home to several endemic species. Even though the last eruption took place a long time ago, there is still an active fumarole to be found at the western shore of the lake. When you get tired of swimming around in the crystal clear water, you can rent kayaks or go bird watching.
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