Siuna

For Seafarers International Union of North America (SIUNA), see Seafarers International Union of North America.
Siuna
Municipality

Aereal view of Siuna
Siuna

Location in Nicaragua

Coordinates: 13°44′N 84°46′W / 13.733°N 84.767°W
Country  Nicaragua
Department North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region
Government
 • Mayor Onilda Reyes Rocha
 • Vice Mayor Dr. Noel Espinoza
Area
 • Municipality 1,950 sq mi (5,040 km2)
Population (2005)
 • Municipality 64,092
 • Density 33/sq mi (13/km2)
 • Urban 10,345
Time zone Central Time (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) No DST (UTC-6)
Climate Am
for the village in Nepal see Siuna, Nepal

Siuna is a municipality in the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (RACCN), Nicaragua, located approximately 318 km from the capital city of Managua and 218 km from the coastal city and capital of the RACCN, Puerto Cabezas. Siuna is the name of the city as well as the municipality. The municipality of Siuna contains 204 rural communities and 20 neighborhoods. The total population of the municipality is 97,308 inhabitants.[1]

Demographics

The population of Siuna is 100,770 people. Thirty percent of the population, or some 30,531 people, live in the city of Siuna, while approximately 70% of the population, 71,239 people, live in the over 200 rural communities.[2]

There are 20 neighborhoods [3] originally had names based on the population that lived there during the mine, such as "Moskitown" (where the Miskitos lived) and "Jamaicatown" (where the Creoles lived). Today, although these names are commonly used, all neighborhoods have Spanish names.

The population is 99.7% Mestizo, .2% Mayangna, .07% Miskito, .01% Creole.[4]

History

The town of Siuna was the site of La Luz Mining company, which was active from 1936 to 1968. There was migration from other areas of the country to work in the gold mine during these years, including people from the coast and indigenous groups. The mine was shut down in 1968 due to damage of the hydroelectric plant.[5]

Photo of Siuna's La Luz Gold Mine taken in 1955-1961.
La Zona as pictured in the late 1950s
Siuna main street in the late 1950s

Currently Calibre Mining owns the mine, but it is currently in-active. The only active mine in the mining triangle is located in Bonanza, Nicaragua and operated through HEMCO.

HEMCO is also active in Siuna through the Javier Chamorro Forestry Project executed through NORTEAK.

Government Institutions

The following government institutions are present and working in Siuna: MINED, MINSA, MARENA, INTA, INAFOR, and as well as the SILAIS office for the RACCN.

Education

There are two universities that offer courses in Siuna. The URACCAN (Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense) which offer majors in Agro-Forestry and Local Development. The Martin Luther University offers a Nursing degree.

There is a Secondary School run through MINED as well as a Secondary/Primary school run through the Parish.

Economy

The majority of the population are farmers. The primary crops are beans and corn. There is a greater focus in recent years on cacao production as alternative income. The organization Cacao RAAN works with a number of cooperatives in the region focused on cacao and chocolate production.

The NGO, Bridges to Community,[6] focused on community development and service learning, has an office in Siuna and actively works in two communities, Rosa Grande and Fonseca. Bridges to Community works with the local communities in projects focused on: Education, Health, and Economic Development. In the area of education, Bridges to Community has most recently built with the community of Rosa Grande a library where now over 400 students in the area go to access literature, research, and study. In the area of health, Bridges to Community has worked most recently with the community of Fonseca in building a water project to benefit 30 houses in addition to the school and chapel. Bridges to Community is also working in digging a well and repairing the distribution system at the MINSA hospital to ensure constant water access in the hospital. Currently in discussion is a joint project involving Bridges to Community, MINSA, US-based Medical Schools, and local health leaders in building and creating a model health care clinic in the region.

Bridges to Community's approach is unique in that the NGO only works in communities that solicit the NGO's support and works with the community on projects that the community wants. In addition the approach focuses not only on construction of projects but of exchange between people and cultures through service learning and reflection.

In 2013 Bridges to Community will begin work in the community of Tadazna.

Transportation and Tourism

Siuna is accessible by Avianca Nicaragua as well by bus on the Managua - Puerto Cabezas Highway or through Waslala on the Matagalpa - Waslala - Siuna road. The bus Managua to Siuna takes 12 hours through Rio Blanco on the Puerto Cabezas road. Siuna is located 99 km from Waslala and takes about 6 hours by bus.

In town taxis as well as a local bus system provide transportation to the public.

plane landed on airstrip

There are a number of hotels in town including Posada Doña Chella. In addition there is tourism offered through WiwiTours.

References

  1. ↑ Information taken from MINSA-Siuna
  2. ↑ Siuna Mayor's Office Records
  3. ↑ MINSA records, Siuna
  4. ↑ Siuna Mayors Office Records
  5. ↑ http://www.calibremining.com/s/Siuna.asp
  6. ↑ http://www.bridgestocommunity.org

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Siuna (Nicaragua).

Coordinates: 13°44′N 84°46′W / 13.733°N 84.767°W