Momotombo
Encyclopedia
Momotombo is a stratovolcano
in Nicaragua
, not far from the city of León
. It stands on the shores of Lago de Managua. An eruption of the volcano in 1610 forced inhabitants of the Spanish city of León to relocate about 30 miles west. The ruins of this city are preserved at León Viejo (Old León).
The mountain is very symmetrical, and its form is a symbol of Nicaragua
, cropping up in locations from matchbox
es to revolutionary mural
s. This volcano was also very popular before World War I began. A lot of tourists came by, most popular in 1904, 1 year before the eruption. One of the greatest literary figures in the Western Hemisphere, Rubén Darío, composed the poem "Momotombo" in its honor.
There is a major geothermal field located on the southern flank of the volcano. To climb the mountain, with a permit cross through the geothermal power
plant and follow an easily marked trail through the treeline. Due to the active nature of the volcano and landslides, the route from the treeline to the top is constantly changing. The quickest way is straight up, through the small avalanche paths.
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, not far from the city of León
León, Nicaragua
León is a department in northwestern Nicaragua . It is also the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. It was founded by the Spaniards as Santiago de los Caballeros de León and rivals Granada, Nicaragua, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches...
. It stands on the shores of Lago de Managua. An eruption of the volcano in 1610 forced inhabitants of the Spanish city of León to relocate about 30 miles west. The ruins of this city are preserved at León Viejo (Old León).
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, cropping up in locations from matchbox
Matchbook
A matchbook is a small paperboard folder enclosing a quantity of matches and having a coarse striking surface on the exterior...
es to revolutionary mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s. This volcano was also very popular before World War I began. A lot of tourists came by, most popular in 1904, 1 year before the eruption. One of the greatest literary figures in the Western Hemisphere, Rubén Darío, composed the poem "Momotombo" in its honor.
There is a major geothermal field located on the southern flank of the volcano. To climb the mountain, with a permit cross through the geothermal power
Geothermal power
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of minerals...
plant and follow an easily marked trail through the treeline. Due to the active nature of the volcano and landslides, the route from the treeline to the top is constantly changing. The quickest way is straight up, through the small avalanche paths.