Masaya

Masaya on the map of Nicaragua

Masaya is a city in southwestern Nicaragua, capital of the department of the same name near Managua, 14 kilometers north of Granada. It is called " City of Flowers ". In the fall it hosts the festival held in honor of San Jerónimo.

Geography

The city (about 140,000 inhabitants in 2001 ) is located on the eastern slope of the 635 m high volcano Masaya. The Masaya is one of the most active volcanoes in the Americas, on the ground of his 260 m deep crater is a lava lake. After numerous eruptions in the 20th century, the volcano pushes today usually daily large amounts of sulfur dioxide clouds, the last (minor) eruption was in 2008. Volcano and the surrounding him National Park are among the tourist highlights of Nicaragua.

Economy

The city is the industrial and commercial center of the surrounding agricultural aligned region. Main products include fibers, cigars, shoes, leather goods, soap and starch. Furthermore, the Indian Arts and Crafts is a major industry. In the city there are numerous hammock producers and retailers, on two major markets ( the old and the new ) arts and crafts are sold (mainly to tourists ).

Sons and daughters of the town

• Enrique Bolaños Geyer ( born 1928 ), President 2002-2007
• Manuel García Moia ( b. 1936 ), painter of naïve art

Twin Cities

• Dietz Bach, Germany (since 1985)
• Leicester, England
• Nijmegen, The Netherlands
• Prievidza, Slovakia

• Location in Nicaragua
• Department of Masaya