El Realejo
| El Realejo | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Coordinates: 12 ° 32 ′ N , 87 ° 10 ′ W El Realejo on the map of Nicaragua
|
||
| Basic data | ||
| Country | Nicaragua | |
| Department | Chinandega | |
| City foundation | 1532 | |
| Residents | 10,300 | |
| Detailed data | ||
| surface | 104 km 2 | |
| Population density | 99 people / km 2 | |
| height | 7 m | |
| Time zone | UTC −6 | |
 |
||
El Realejo is a port city and a municipality in the west of the Chinandega department in the Central American state of Nicaragua . Across the strait Estero Doña Paula is Haff of Realejo with the Pacific connected.
history
El Realejo was built within the first five years of the Conquista of Nicaragua and soon developed into the most important port in the Diocese of Nicaragua. There was a customs post in Realejo, which contributed to the prosperity of the city.
At the end of the 16th century there were wealthy citizens in Realejo, fat spoils for pirates who threatened the existence of the port city. William Dampier reported in 1685 about the Volcan de San Christobal that it smoked during the day and glowed at night and thus served the Bucaneros as a lighthouse . They landed in El Realejo Bay in 1697 and raided the city of Leon .
In 1845, in the Guerra de Malespín , the beleaguered Leon was supposed to be supplied with weapons via the port of Realejo, but the shipload of weapons fell into the hands of the besiegers.
The Filibustero William Walker (mercenary) also visited Nicaragua via Realejo. The Convento San Francisco monastery was destroyed in one of the numerous pirate attacks in the 17th century . As a result, Realejo was left.
With the construction of the port of Corinto in 1875, the importance of El Realejo declined.
economy
The main industry is agriculture - rice, corn, sesame, cassava, bananas and especially cane sugar. In addition, lobsters and cattle are bred. Those who cannot find employment there work as fishermen or crab hunters.
Attractions
There are traces of the past in the city. A few blocks from the small central park are the ruins of the Convento San Francisco . The Church of San Benito is opposite the central park. In the town hall there is a small exhibition with archaeological finds. The mangroves and their fauna can be observed on a boat trip to the Estero Doña Paula .
In the past, a railway bridge crossed the Paso Caballos ford to the west of El Realejo. Today there are several restaurants here with a view of the Pacific, the tropical savannah and the Volcan de San Christobal .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Nicaraguan Government El Realejo. (PDF) Archived from the original ; accessed on May 17, 2020 (Spanish).