Masaya Volcano National Park
facts and figures | |
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Founding: | 1979 |
Location: | about 20 kilometers north of Granada |
Altitude: | 500 m to 635 m above sea level d. M. |
Surface: | 54 km² |
Visitors | |
Landscape type: | |
Specialty: | second national park in Nicaragua |
Address: | Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya km. 23 Carretera Managua-Masaya Nindirí, Nicaragua |
The Masaya Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya) was designated as the second national park in Nicaragua in 1979. It covers an area of 5100 hectares and offers visitors more than 20 kilometers of hiking trails with views of the two volcanoes Nindirí and Masaya and five craters (Montoso, Arenoso, Sastepe and Comalito) of the national park.
Since the last eruptions of the two volcanoes (Nindirí: 1670, Masaya: 1772), the park's ecosystem has undergone many changes. The dry lava was gradually conquered by small plants that cleared the way for larger vegetation, which in turn provides food and protection for settling fauna. In the dry season, the park is littered with lots of fragrant flowers, including many species of orchid and the national flower, sacuanjoche ( frangipani ).
The fauna of the national park includes coyotes, skunks, raccoons and possums, which make up the nocturnal squad. During the day you can meet iguanas, monkeys, deer, rabbits and parrots. The latter seek shelter in the sulfur-contaminated crater walls, apparently without being damaged. Other species of birds such as woodpeckers and coquettes do the same.
Other attractions of the national park include petrified lava and tropical dry forest vegetation .
A visitor center provides information in an exhibition about the history, geology, flora and fauna of the national park, other national parks and volcanoes in Nicaragua.
See also
Web links
- Information about the park and more photos ViaNica.com (English)
- Photo gallery of the park nicatour.net
- World Database on Protected Areas - Masaya Volcano National Park (English)
Coordinates: 11 ° 59 ′ 0 ″ N , 86 ° 9 ′ 0 ″ W.