Somoto, Madriz
| Somoto | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | |||
|
The Parroquia Santiago in central Somoto. | |||
| |||
  Somoto Location in Nicaragua | |||
| Coordinates: 13°28′N 86°34′W / 13.467°N 86.567°W | |||
| Country |
 Nicaragua | ||
| Department | Madriz | ||
| Population (2005) | |||
| • Municipality | 35,000 | ||
| • Urban | 15,000 | ||
Somoto is a city and municipality located in the hills of northern Nicaragua, and capital of the department of Madriz. It is around 20 km (12 miles) south-west of Ocotal and 51 km (32 miles) north-west of Estelí. It sits on the Pan-American Highway around 16 km (10 miles) from the Honduran border crossing at El Espino.
Founded in pre-Hispanic times by Olmec and Aztec immigrants from modern Mexico, Somoto is the economic and cultural heart of Madriz. It has also become a growing tourist centre since the discovery of Somoto Canyon, located 13 km (8 miles) west of the city. Somoto has a total population of approximately 40,000, with 15,000 people living in the urban area and 25,000 in 48 nearby communities.[1]
It is known as La Flor de Henequén (the Flower of Henequen) as a result of the cultivation of this crop in the city's environs. It is also renowned for its production of rosquillas somoteñas, crispy corn biscuits with a variety of flavours.[2]
History
Somoto was settled by Olmec and Aztec peoples from Mexico, and subsequently inhabited by Chorotegas and Nicaraguas. The name Somoto originates from the Nahuatl Tépecxomotl, meaning 'Valley of Geese', while Spanish royal decrees of 1591 give the city's name as Santiago de Tepesomoto. Although the city is now universally known as Somoto, the name Tepesomoto is retained by the volcano overlooking the city to the south and its surrounding Tepesomoto-La Patasta Nature Reserve.[3]
Somoto was granted town status in January 1867 and city status in March 1895. It has been the capital city of Madriz since that department's separation from Nueva Segovia in November 1936.[4]
Somoto's adobe parrochial church, formally the Temple of Saint James the Apostle (Templo Santiago Apostól), was established in the heart of Somoto in 1661 opposite the city's parque central (central park); it is therefore one of Nicaragua's oldest surviving church buildings, pre-dating the Cathedral of León by 86 years. However the present façade and bell tower were constructed as recently as 1875.[5] Somoto is also located near the Cacaulí Sanctuary, a site for religious pilgrimage since a boy claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary while collecting firewood in 1990.[6]
The famous Nicaraguan singer-songwriters and brothers Carlos Mejía Godoy and Luís Enrique Mejía Godoy were born in Somoto, as was their nephew Luis Enrique.[7]
International relations
The Merced/Somoto Sister City Committee was formed in 1988 by members of the Merced Central America Support Group, who were matched with Somoto by the Nicaraguan Embassy.[8] In March 1992 were granted official sister city status by a unanimous vote of the Merced City Council.
Somoto also has links with the following:
-
Lasarte-Oria, Basque Country, Spain - Llodio, Basque Country, Spain
- Leganés, Madrid, Spain
- Vic, Catalonia, Spain
-
Fougères, Brittany, France
Sports
The Real Madriz football team is based in Somoto.
References
- ↑ City of Merced,Merced-Somoto History
- ↑ Via Nica, History of Somoto Rosquillas
- ↑ Alcaldía de Somoto, History
- ↑ Alcaldía de Somoto, History
- ↑ Parroquia Santiago de Somoto
- ↑ Via Nica, Cacaulí Sanctuary
- ↑ Biografías y Vidas,Carlos Mejía Godoy
- ↑ City of Merced,Merced-Somoto History
External links
Coordinates: 13°29′N 86°35′W / 13.483°N 86.583°W
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