Nindirí is located on the plain of the largest volcanic caldera in Central America, the caldera volcanic Masaya , what makes up the National Park Tourist Complex Masaya Volcano formed by four craters.
The Santiago Volcano is one of the seven active volcanoes in Nicaragua and since 1520 it has recorded at least 20 different activities, including volcanic eruptions in 1772 and 1820. Since December 2015 it began a new volcanic activity, creating an impressive lava lake in its crater .
This is a Hawaiian-type volcano due to its eruption, which means that its magma overflows over the edge of its crater forming long lava flows that, when solidifying, give the characteristic of an arid landscape, despite the fact that the vegetation manages to adapt to the wild volcanic soil environment. Inside the Masaya caldera there is a system of tubular caves formed by lava flows that have flowed down the mountain during its multiple eruptions.
Unlike most Central American volcanoes, which are mainly characterized by their explosive activities, Masaya is an effusive volcano, that is, its manifestations have consisted, since its formation about 5,000 years ago, in spills or emissions of fluid lava, which have not only obstructed the historic craters but also surpassed their edges and spread their incandescent content on the stretched slopes.
At the bottom of the caldera, molten material emerges, in an incandescent state, forming "lava lakes", which, when spreading laterally, level the flat bottom of the caldera, sealing it with a solidified black lava crust.
Since December 2015, the Santiago crater began eruptive activity creating an impressive lava lake, which can be seen to date. Experts indicate that this activity occurs every 200 years.
Malinche flower
A second crater, the San Fernando, is apparently extinct; the third, the Nindirí, is the crater of the conquest, obstructed by the lava spill of 1670. The fourth crater San Pedro, is inactive, open next to the western edge of the Nindirí.
A seasonal dry forest covers the entire Masaya Volcano National Park, this ecosystem offers visitors spaces for interaction and interpretation on the ecological functions and relationships between the various species. Likewise, there is a more humid habitat in the Masaya Lagoon area where there are trees that maintain green foliage throughout the year.
The trees of the Masaya Volcano and the municipality of Nindirí have the characteristic of shedding their leaves in the summer, when they are left without leaves, they reduce the amount of nutrients they need and for this reason they are called dry or deciduous forests. Species such as the sacuanjoche and the jiñocuabo change their stems to green to catch the sunlight in the absence of leaves. But, other trees, such as the malinche and the nancite manage to keep their leaves even during the dry season, standing out and highlighting their greenness in the landscape.
La Masaya Lagoon It is surrounded by high walls and vertical cliffs, and by huge flows of hardened lava. Its calm waters favor navigation and sport fishing, so it is common to observe species of aquatic birds such as herons and kingfishers.
In the Masaya Volcano, birds are one of the most exciting biological attractions, particularly the only colony of owl (tyto alba) on the walls of Cerro Sastepe. In the humid areas, close to the lagoon, there are guardabarrancos, toledo jumping and chichiltotes.
There is a species of endemic chocoyos that exist only in the crater of the volcano, the only species that survives the gases emitted in it.
nature tourism
Masaya Volcano National Park: The Volcano can be reached by your own vehicle or by public, private or personal vehicle. From Managua in front of the UCA or in the Roberto Huembes Market, and board the buses that go to Masaya, Granada or Rivas and request your stop at kilometer 23. To ascend to the crater you can go up with the vehicle to the Plaza de Oviedo, point where there is a parking lot and viewpoint. Currently the visits have increased due to the volcanic activity of its lava lake that began in December 2015, constituting a spectacle of nature.
Masaya Volcano
In the Masaya Volcano National Park, located at kilometer 23 of the highway to Masaya, you can witness the volcanic activity, observe the lava and gases that emanate from the Santiago crater, learn about the flora and fauna of the site, take guided tours and learn about the country's active and dormant volcanoes at the Visitor Center.
Another activity of interest is the night tour where from 05:30 pm you can see a lava lake in all its splendor in the Santiago crater.
A guide service is offered to visit the cave of the bats and witness the return of a large number of chocoyos that fly to the volcano in search of their home.
During a night tour, visitors can observe and listen to the herds of coyotes crossing the slopes of the volcano and sometimes they will be able to observe deer in the forest sites near Cerro Montoso. These night tours are normally offered by tour operators.
La Colada de Lava, located in the San Francisco region four kilometers from the city of Nindirí, is a site that was formed as a result of the eruption of the Santiago Volcano in 1772. You can walk around and observe the landscape and vegetation own of the site.
If you like to walk and observe the landscape, the Guadalupe Bajadero is an option in the municipality, it is a traditional downspout with a path that leads to the Masaya Lagoon, where you will observe the flora and fauna of the place, know the famous Piedra del Sacrifice and the caves of the cliffs and in addition to contemplating the beautiful landscape on a sunny day, your view will be unforgettable.
There are two traditional downspouts, one in the community of El Hoyo and the other adjacent to the Balcón de la Laguna restaurant, which can only be explored with proper guidance and security.
Likewise, the Masaya Volcano National Park and the rural roads of the municipality are used by cyclists who are fond of mountain biking, in tours organized by groups and clubs in the capital. Nindirí is annually the venue for one of the dates of the National Mountain Bike Championship.
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