Granada is a city in western
Nicaragua and the capital of the
Granada Department. With an estimated population of
110,326 (
2003), it is Nicaragua's fifth most populous city. Granada is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities, economically and politically. It has a rich colonial heritage, seen in its architecture and structure.
Granada was founded in 1524 by
Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, ostensibly the first
European city in mainland
America. Unlike other cities that claim the same distinction, the city of Granada was not only the settlement of the conquest, but also a city registered in official records of the
Crown of Aragon, and the
Kingdom of Castile in
Spain.
Granada is also known as La
Gran Sultana, in reflection of its
Moorish and
Andalusian appearance, unlike its sister city of
León and historical rival, which displays
Castilian trends.
Granada is located along the coast of the
Lake Nicaragua (a.k.a.
Lake Cocibolca), the world's twentieth largest lake.
Granada is the capital city of the
Department of Granada, which borders
Boaco and
Managua to the north,
Masaya and
Carazo to the east and
Rivas to the south.
Within the same department, the
River Tipitapa which connects the
Lake of Managua and Nicaragua passes through it in the north. It also has three volcanic lagoons; Manares, Genirzaro, and the famous Apoyo. Apoyo, which is shared with the Department of Masaya, is the largest volcanic lagoon in Nicaragua. Granada is a very warm city all year round, with very similar temperatures to Managua. This is due to similarities in geography with its close proximity to a lake and surrounded by high hills. Rainfall in Granada is approximately between 1,100-2,
100mm annually.
The vegetation around Granada is a reflection of its climatology.
Dry forests and also humid forests skirt the Mombacho volcano. The volcano is also home to a wide array of fauna. (See
Wildlife of Nicaragua) The lake is also home to many creatures, both marine and freshwater creatures. It is the only freshwater lake in the world where sharks live (Nicaragua shark).
Fishing in the lake is quite good, and fishermen, both commercial and recreational, regularly catch guapote and mojarras, as well as sardines. Nicaragua has recently banned fishing
of the Nicaragua shark and sawfish because of population decline.Other important cities and towns within the Granada district include Malacatoya,
El Paso, El
Guayabo,
Diria, Macatepe, El
Guanacaste,
Nandaime and
Diriomo, known nationally as the last city of witches. Mombacho volcano is the highest
point (1,345 m) within Granada; the now dormant volcano blew most of its cone into the lake, forming the
365 Islets of Granada, from where the volcano provides an amazing view. It is also possible on a clear day to see
Ometepe and Zapatera
Islands. This latter island is the second largest island in Lake Nicaragua, and it too is an inactive volcano. It is a national treasure, known as the home of pre-Columbian statues and idols which were found on the island during the
Spanish conquest, these are now exhibited in the Convento
San Francisco Museum.Granada has many beaches on Lake Nicaragua which are very popular around
Semana Santa ("
Holy Week").
Granada has long been a center of commerce, including timber, gold and silver. Granada's economy continues to grow as it is becoming the national tourism hub. Though Granada remains Nicaragua's fourth largest city, it is widely known for preserving some of the finest colonial-era architecture in the country. A real estate boom had been underway for several years, with many European and
Americans purchasing and renovating the area's homes for retirement or holiday homes and several foreign realtors establishing offices, but that boom slowed in
2007. The prior escalation of real estate prices in Granada and other parts of
Southwestern Nicaragua has led to a shift of investor attention toward
Northern Nicaragua and the cities of
Matagalpa,
Leon,
Corinto and the surrounding beaches of Leon and Corinto.Museums have opened, including one of the finest in the country, the private Mi Museo, and new hotels and restaurants are proliferating at a fast clip.
Granada, though now highly dependent on tourism, also has fertile agricultural land within the municipality.
Major production of organic coffee and cacao, cattle, plantain and bananas occurs within its boundaries.
Wikipedia
- published: 17 Mar 2013
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