Chinandega

Chinandega (from Nahuatl: Chinantlan 'Place surrounded by reeds') is a municipality and a city in the Republic of Nicaragua, head of the department of Chinandega, in the western Pacific region of this Central American country, the region with the greatest economic strength after the capital of Managua. It is known as the "City of Oranges".

Toponymy

The name in Nahuatl has several interpretations and one of them is Chinantlan, that is, Place surrounded by reeds, from chinamitl, which means "near reeds", and -tlan, suffix of abundance.

Geography

The city of Chinandega is located in the west of Nicaragua, it has an area of 686.6 km², it is located between the coordinates 12° 37′ 0″ north latitude and 87° 9′ 0″ west longitude, at an altitude of 46 ms. no. m., Its limits are to the north with the municipalities of Somotillo and Villanueva, to the south with the municipalities of Chichigalpa, El Realejo and Posoltega, to the east with the municipalities of Villanueva and Telica and to the west with the municipalities of El Viejo and Puerto Morazán, is located on a completely flat surface, crossed by the Acome river, which rises in its vicinity and crosses it to the north, completely surrounding it to the west. Chinandega has the highest volcano in Nicaragua with a height of 1745 meters above sea level. no. m.

Volcanology

The San Cristóbal volcano is the highest volcano in Nicaragua with 1745 m, it is located in the department of Chinandega, it is visible from afar and has constantly demonstrated its activity with the emission of clouds of smoke and gas Although at one time the The volcano was covered in verdant forests, those have already died because of the gas and smoke that it constantly expels. This volcano is the most active of the Maribios volcanic complex, located to the east of the department.

A volcano located in the same complex is the Casita (1405 m). On October 30, 1998, heavy rainfall from Hurricane Mitch caused a landslide that killed approximately 2,000 people. Currently, in the town of Posoltega there is a monument in honor of the victims of this natural disaster.

Another important volcano, located in the neighboring municipality of El Viejo, in the extreme northwest of Nicaragua, is Cosigüina (859 m), which has become another of the country's natural reserves. This volcano, historically known as Nevado de Cosigüina, had the most powerful eruption in the Americas in 1835, which emitted ash as far as Mexico and Jamaica and reduced its crater of more than 4,000 m to its current dimensions. Over time, this large crater filled with water, thus forming a deep lagoon. Also related to the volcano are the Farallones de Cosigüina, located in the Gulf of Fonseca, which were formed during one of its eruptions. Currently, these rocks are inhabited by pelicans, seagulls and other birds.

History

During the Spanish colony it was a small and prosperous town, but its location on fertile and flat lands, and site of commercial traffic, accelerated its development over the years.

Chinandega is one of many Native American communities that were already in existence at the time of the Spanish conquest of Nicaragua. The priest Fray Francisco de Bobadilla visited the site in 1528. The Spanish chronicler Fray Antonio Vázquez de Espinosa in his compendium and description of the West Indies describes it during his visit to Chinandega in 1613 as follows:

"The people of Chinandega composed of many Indians, abundant of corn and of all the fruits of the earth, seem like a piece of paradise."

Since it began as a town in 1796, Chinandega has well-planned streets, designed by Engineer Antonio Rojas. One of the best mayors of this city is Geronimo Ramírez. The development of the city of Chinandega as a human embryo began with the law of March 30, 1835 that established a fair on December 8 of each year. A year later, on March 15, 1836, during the government of Doctor José Núñez, it was given the title of Villa and on September 2, 1839, the government of Joaquín del Cossío (a native of El Viejo) granted it the title of City.

By legislative decree of the Central American Confederation issued on July 17, 1842, the city of Chinandega was the Capital of the Central American Federation and in 1858 it was separated from the old department of the West, made up of León and Chinandega, to become a department.

The city has many colonial buildings, though not to the same extent as León and Granada when many of them were destroyed during a bombing raid in 1928. The bombing was carried out by liberal forces as a protest against newly re-elected President Adolfo Díaz. Only the churches were left intact.

On November 1, 1998, the city was hit hard by Hurricane Mitch. Thousands of people lost their homes and around 50 people are believed to have died. The hurricane also caused significant damage to the infrastructure of Chinandega.

Demographics

Chinandega has a current population of 136,788 inhabitants. Of the total population, 48.2% are men and 51.8% are women. Almost 83.2% of the population lives in the urban area.

Climate

The city of Chinandega is one of the hottest in Nicaragua as temperatures, quite high throughout the year, reach up to 40 °C (107.6 °F). Many times the best way to cool down is to simply avoid the sun. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it has a tropical savannah climate, abbreviated "(Aw)" on climate maps. This area usually has a pronounced dry season from November to April and the rainy season from May to October. The average temperatures are between 21 and 30 °C and the maximum up to 42 °C. The maximum annual precipitation reaches 4500 mm and the minimum up to 1000 per year in some municipalities. It is located on a completely flat surface, crossed by the Acome River, which rises in its vicinity and crosses it to the north, completely surrounding it to the west.

Economy

Currently, in 2015 it was classified as the second Nicaraguan economic power; after the capital Managua because the city is an active center of commerce where agriculture, livestock and industry are mainly combined. The connection with the port of Corinto and León make Chinandega an important point.

This department is famous for the fertility of its soils and its high level of agricultural production. In the past, there was a cotton monoculture that made it one of the richest departments in the country. However, over time the prices of this product fell and its soil was depleted, so farmers had to look for alternative grains that were well received by the land. Today, vast sugar cane fields dominate Chichigalpa, where Nicaragua's finest liquor, Flor de Caña rum, is produced.

Local offices of the Coen Group, one of the most important corporations in the country that have as its starting point the city.

Centro Plaza Occidente, en el se encuentra, chains national et international de beverages y alimentos, tiendas, benches, insurers, optics and a gym of an international chain.

Chinandega is a city very rich in trade and industry. In it is the municipality of El Realejo, one of the most important and oldest ports of the colonial era, but which currently does not exist. Corinto is also a municipality in the department of Chinandega where one of the country's main ports is located. In addition to ports, Chinandega has oil, flour, peanut, and shrimp industries, sugar mills in Chichigalpa and El Viejo, and liquor production with international prestige. In livestock production, the city occupies the first place at the departmental level together with the municipality of El Viejo with eight thousand head of cattle. The meat production is commercialized mainly in Managua, after its slaughter in the municipal slaughterhouse. Dairy products and their derivatives are used for consumption by the local population and for marketing with other areas. In addition to the predominance of agricultural work in this city, commerce also stands out and with great preponderance, three markets: central, mercadito and the wholesale market (bisne) are the sectors with the highest commercial index in the region, there are four supermarkets in the city (Selecto, Palí, La Colonia and Maxi Palí), a shopping center (Centro Plaza Occidente) numerous establishments with businesses of all kinds are common in the streets of the city, it is the city with the most commercial spirit in Nicaragua also exist in the city some industries where basic grains are processed, others where shrimp are processed for export such as pescanova and also some free zones that offer certain employment alternatives to the inhabitants.

The most important economic activity is agriculture, mainly the cultivation of sugar cane, with two of the largest sugar mills in the country being located here: Ingenio San Antonio (ISA) and Ingenio Monte Rosa.

Culture and traditions

Crafts at the Municipal Museum of Chinandega

Chinandega's cultural and historical riches date back to before the Spanish conquest, when this region was inhabited by various indigenous tribes, perhaps originating from the north, possibly from present-day Mexico. There is a museum in the city, "Enrique Mantica Deshon", which contains 1200 archaeological artifacts of pre-Columbian origin. There is also a municipal theater called "Rodrigo Callejas" with capacity for 400 people.

Holy Week is very crowded in the city, you can appreciate the payment of promises for miracles received to thousands of parishioners on each festivity. In the Holy Week period, the Jiquilillo spa and several mighty rivers are also frequently visited.

In the Holy Week festivities, folkloric dances are appreciated: the Gigantona, the Pepe Cabezón, accompanied by mortars, rockets, closed charges, firecrackers and other fireworks.

The people of Chinandega are mostly Catholic.

Heritage

Our Lady of Santa Ana Parish

Retablo de la Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Santa Ana, Chinandega

In keeping with the old colonial style, the city is organized around a main square and the beautiful colonial parish church with a neoclassical façade called Nuestra Señora de Santa Ana; the most important temple in the city. It has resisted the ravages of destructive elements such as earthquakes and historical wars for more than a century and, although they have caused great damage, it still stands as a temple of solid and firm construction. To top it off, this temple was severely affected by an earthquake in 1885 and was later rebuilt in its current appearance. The construction of the original building probably dates back to the 17th century according to documents of Monsignor Pedro Agustín Morel de Santa Cruz, Bishop of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, dating from June 1751 where he says:

"This Church has three naves on horcones, with its sacristy and high and immediate choir, two small bells and the walls of lime and stone and roof of tile and board."

Fortunately, the two historic "antique" that open on the north and south sides survived the ravages of the 1925 earthquake that collapsed the gable and the towers.

The patron saint of this warm city celebrates her festival on July 26 of each year. Inside her temple is the recently restored altarpiece or main altar, preserving its original design, which is one of the most beautiful in the country; its elaborate pulpit; the minor altars, also restored, and the side naves, works product of the Coen Foundation and the support of the parishioners, which each day give a more imposing touch to this beautiful temple that is already waiting to be declared a Cathedral, with its own Bishop and his own diocese.

Calvary Parish

El Calvario Parish is located in the neighborhood of the same name, and was built in 1874 by Bishop Manuel Ulloa y Calvo. The first structure here was made of adobe, but on October 11, 1885 it was destroyed by an earthquake and later rebuilt. Its patron is the Holy Name of Jesus, which is celebrated on the last Sunday of January of each year. On May 17, the feast of San Pascual Baylón is also celebrated in the parish. The church was recently restored by the Coen Foundation.

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Recently built, its origins lie in a structure built in 1855 but destroyed by an earthquake in 1885. It was originally built as an offering to Our Lady of Guadalupe during a cholera outbreak. After the outbreak, an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was first displayed in the church on December 25, 1856, and Pope Pius IX elevated the church to the status of sanctuary, the first church in Central America to earn this title. It was restored by the Coen Foundation and its main festival is celebrated on December 12, processions are also held here during Holy Week.

Church of Saint Anthony

This church was also badly damaged during the 1885 earthquake, after which it was enlarged. The church became unofficially associated with the city's aristocracy; Within its walls, elaborate weddings were held between members of the aristocracy. In 1923, with the arrival of the Franciscans in the church, it was completely rebuilt. Its main festival falls on June 13 of each year. There is also a procession that takes place on January 1 of each year.

Colonial buildings

Chinandega still has certain colonial buildings, although perhaps not with the same splendor as the cities of León and Granada because many were damaged during the fire and aerial bombardment that it suffered during the bloody battle in February 1927 between conservatives and liberals during the civil war called the Constitutionalist War.

Only the Catholic temples and some private houses remained standing, which still preserve certain features with their central patios and colonial facades. Nor is there a building code that obliges the preservation and encouragement of the splendor of colonial architecture as there is in León and Granada.

Festivities of the Catholic Church

In the city there are 11 traditional festivals, one of which is dedicated to the patron saint of Chinandega. Our Lady of Santa Ana, in the year:

• On May 17th to party in honor of San Pascual Baylón, which includes the Mantudos dance.
• On July 26 it is the magnificent Procession and Celebration in honor of Our Lady of Santa Ana.
• On September 24, the feast is celebrated in honor of the Virgin of Merced, with her traditional Torito dance.
• From 8 to 16 August the festival is commemorated in honor of San Roque includes the traditional dances of the Cuchara and Panda.
• The patron saints' feasts of Santa Ana, from 10 to 26 July have now gained a great boom, since it includes kermés, fishing, glued bull, aborada, function and procession with the image of the bosses, horse parade, and carnival for the election of the queen of the municipality.
• 7 October: The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
• October 12: Feast in honor of Our Lady of Pilar
• December 7th and 8th: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Traditional Festivity of the Criteria
• December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of America

Personalities

• Elí Altamirano (1934-2006), politician and trade unionist
• Russel Carrero Trejos (1950–1990), Olympic athlete (the first in Nicaragua)
• Hermosgenes L. Mora (1979 -), poet and writer
• Ana Navarro Flores (1971 -), American political commentator
• Vicente Padilla (1977 -), Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox
• Ileana Rodríguez (1939 -), academic specializing in Latin American Studies
• Samuel Wilson (1983 -), ex-futbolist

Twinnings

They have three sister cities with: