Kukra Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kukra Hill
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Municipality
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 Kukra Hill
Location in Nicaragua
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| Country |  Nicaragua |
| Department | South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 461 sq mi (1,193 km2) |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Municipality | 8,790 |
| • Density | 19.083/sq mi (7.368/km2) |
| • Urban | 2,767 |
| Climate | Af |
Kukra Hill is a town in Nicaragua. It is located in the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. The town's name in Spanish is Loma de los Kukras.
Kukra Hill became its own town (municipality) in 1989. Before that, it was part of a larger town called Bluefields.
Contents
How to Say "Kukra"
People who live in Kukra Hill say the word "Kukra" as "Kukara."
Where is Kukra Hill?
Kukra Hill is located in a special part of Nicaragua. To the north, it borders the towns of El Tortuguero and Laguna de Perlas. To the south, it borders Bluefields. The Caribbean Sea is to its east. To the west, it borders El Rama.
The main town of Kukra Hill is about 415 kilometers (258 miles) from Managua. Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua. The large Escondido River forms part of the border between Kukra Hill and Bluefields.
A Look at Kukra Hill's Past
Long ago, the area of Kukra Hill was home to the Kukra people. They were a group related to the Ulua people. In the 1600s, the Kukra people started mixing with African people. These African people were brought to America as slaves.
Later, the Miskito group became very powerful. They teamed up with English pirates. Together, they took control of the Kukra lands. This lasted until 1796. That's when England had to agree that Spain ruled this area.
In 1821, countries in Central America became free from Spain. But England got involved again. They said the Kingdom of Mosquitia was under their protection. Kukra Hill was part of this kingdom.
By the late 1700s, the Kukra people had joined with the Miskito people. In the early 1800s, Nicaragua's government took control of the Caribbean Coast. They allowed American companies to use the land. These companies grew rubber, bananas, and cocoa. They also cut down valuable wood and raised livestock.
Today, only the names of places like Kukra Hill, Kukra River, and Kukra Point remind us of the Kukra people. The people living on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast today come from many different backgrounds. These include African, Chinese, and European families.
People of Kukra Hill
Kukra Hill has about 10,159 people living there now. A little more than half of the people are men (50.8%). The rest are women (49.2%). Almost half of the people (43.1%) live in the town area.
Nature and Weather
Kukra Hill has a very wet tropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain. It can rain up to 5000 mm (about 197 inches) in a year. Usually, it gets between 2000 and 3000 mm (79-118 inches) annually.
The soil in Kukra Hill is very good for farming. It is rich and has a lot of clay and silt. Most of the area is a flat plain, about 50 meters (164 feet) above sea level. The highest point is Kukra Hill itself, which is 192 meters (630 feet) tall.
Much of the original forest has been cut down. This was done for wood, farms, or pastures for animals. Now, some areas have mangrove forests along the coast. Other areas have dark wood forests, like mahogany and laurel. Deforested areas are now used for pastures or large farms. These farms grow sugarcane and oil palm.
A company called CUKRA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION S.A. runs these farms. They are a big employer in the area. This company also works to help the community and protect the environment.
What People Do for a Living
Kukra Hill has good land and water. Because of this, the main jobs are raising livestock (like cows) and farming.
Culture and Traditions
Most people in Kukra Hill speak Spanish. This is because many people from other parts of Nicaragua have moved there. People from the Miskito and Creole groups also speak their own languages.
The town's main celebration is for Saint John Baptist de La Salle. He is a Catholic saint.
Another important celebration is the Palo de Mayo. This is a traditional dance and festival. It is very important to the Creole people and mixes different cultures.
Getting Around
You can travel to and from Bluefields by boat. The boats use the Cukra River and Bluefields Bay. There is also a paved road that connects Kukra Hill to El Rama and Laguna de Perlas.
See also
In Spanish: Kukra Hill para niños
