Masatepe Explained

Masatepe
Native Name:Matapalete or Popocatepetl
Settlement Type:Municipality
Pushpin Map:Nicaragua
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Nicaragua
Coordinates:11.9167°N -95°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Nicaragua
Subdivision Type1:Department
Subdivision Name1:Masaya
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:59.4
Elevation M:475
Population Total:41809
Population As Of:2022 estimate
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Urban:22978
Postal Code Type:42600
Area Code:42600
Blank Name:Climate
Blank Info:Aw
Official Name:Masatepe

Masatepe (pronounced as /es/) is one of the nine municipalities of the Department of Masaya in Nicaragua. It is located on the plateau of the villages 50 kilometers from Managua along the road to Masaya. It belongs to the tourist corridor of " Los Pueblos Blancos" on top of the coffee-producing Volcanic Plateau. The origin of the word "Masatepe" comes from Nahuatl Mazatl-tepec, «populated deer» or mazatl-tepetl, 'Deer Mountain', which comes from the Nicarao who still inhabit the municipality.[2] Nicarao natives dominate the cocoa production in Masatepe.[3] [4]

History

The name Mazatepetl, meaning in Nahuatl: "Deer Mountain". The population of Chorotega origin, settled in the foothills of the Masaya Volcano, it is important to emphasize that in research deeper envelope the Aboriginal time appears the name Mazatepetl, but Matapalete or Popocatepetl than in Nahuatl means: "Burning Hill".

The ancestors settled from the Laguna de Masaya to the Pochote in the margins of the Masaya Volcano, then was moved to Nimboja and Jalapa.

According to Chronicles of the colony, 1 September 1528 to 5 May 1529, Fray Francisco de Bobadilla visited Matapalete and named a total of 154 aborigines living in the place. In an article of the year, 1613 historian Fray Juan Torquemada appears registered as municipality Masatepe.

In 1835 during the modern era and when Nicaragua had only four departments, Masatepe belonged to Granada.

Weather and Location

Masatepe is located on top of the Plateau of towns, at an altitude of 475m, the total area can be divided into two main different types of biomes:

1- Rain forest (Usually has native trees and Coffee Plantations. Elv: (400 - 500m)

2- Dry Valley. (can be found near the coast of the Lagoon, and the Masaya Volcano). Elv: (90 - 250m)

The temperature fluctuates during the year, being mostly warm. During the winter months (November - January) the temperatures become cooler, and there are usually foggy mornings.

Sports

The town is home of football club Deportivo Masatepe.

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nicaragua/admin/masatepe/6025/ Citypopulation.de
  2. Web site: Preparation of a hygiene plan for the Nicaraos microenterprise cocoa industry in the department of Masaya.
  3. Web site: Preparation of a hygiene plan for the Nicaraos microenterprise cocoa industry in the department of Masaya.
  4. Web site: Nicaragua National Report.