Las Vueltas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Las Vueltas
Municipality
Las Vueltas Location in El Salvador
Country	El Salvador
Department	Chalatenango
Founded	1765
Area
• Total	14.22 sq mi (36.83 km2)
Population  (2005)
• Total	2,101

Las Vueltas is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the northern part of El Salvador. It is part of the Chalatenango Department. This town is surrounded by other places: Ojos de Agua to the north, Las Flores to the east, Chalatenango to the south, and Concepción Quezaltepeque to the northeast. The area of Las Vueltas is about 36.83 square kilometers. In 2005, around 2,101 people lived there. For its local government, the municipality is split into six main areas called cantones, which are further divided into 35 smaller communities called caseríos.

History of Las Vueltas

Las Vueltas was started in 1765 by people who moved from Chalatenango. Over the years, the borders of Las Vueltas and its nearby areas changed a few times due to new laws. For example, some areas like La Ceiba and El Zapotal were sometimes part of Las Vueltas and sometimes part of other towns.

In the early 1900s, there was a lot of tension in El Salvador. Farmers and indigenous people were unhappy with how landowners treated them. This led to a big uprising in 1931. The government responded with force, and many people were killed in what became known as La Matanza, or "The Massacre."

Later, a group of people called leftist guerrillas formed to fight against the government's harsh actions. This led to more violence, and special groups were formed that caused harm to many people. In 1980, the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero helped start the Civil War. This war lasted for 12 years and caused many deaths and forced thousands of people to leave their homes.

The Chalatenango Department, where Las Vueltas is located, was greatly affected by this war. Many families from Las Vueltas had to leave their homes to find safety. However, after the war ended with the signing of the Peace Accords on January 16, 1992, people began to return. They worked hard to rebuild their communities in Las Vueltas.

Geography and Communities

Las Vueltas is divided into several main areas called cantones. Each canton has smaller communities known as caseríos.

Cantones and their Caseríos

• Conacaste: Conacaste, El Arrozalito, La Hondurita, Chilguaste, El Zurron, Los Jobos
• El Sicahuite: El Sicahuite, El Cacao, El Potrero, Tierra Blanca, El Tablón
• La Ceiba: La Ceiba, El Caulote, Los Menjivar, El Limón
• La Laguna Seca: La Laguna, El Picacho, Vallecito, La Quebrada, El Chorizo, Sitio El Amate, Sitio El Copinol
• Los Naranjos: Los Naranjos, San Antonio, Plan del Barro, Los Amates
• San José: San José, El Cordoncillo, El Balcon, Tierra Blanca, San José El Amatillo, La Ceibita, El Descanso, El Portillo, El Roblar

Culture and Traditions

Religious Festivals

Religious festivals are very important in Las Vueltas, just like in most towns in El Salvador. Almost every canton has its own special saint, and they celebrate a festival in that saint's honor. These are called fiestas patronales.

• In the main town area:
  • February 10–12, honoring the Virgin de Concepción.
  • October 10–13, celebrating the anniversary of the town being repopulated.
• Conacaste Canton:
  • December 18, honoring the Virgin de los Remedios.
• Los Naranjos Canton:
  • July 15–16, honoring Virgin del Carmen.
• El Sicahuite Canton:
  • June 20–21, honoring San Luís Gonzaga.
  • May 13, honoring the Virgin de Lourdes.
• San José Canton:
  • March 19, honoring San José de la Montaña (in the Caserío El Amatillo).
• La Ceiba Canton:
  • June 13, honoring San Antonio de Padua.

Music of the Past

In the past, people in Las Vueltas enjoyed ranchera and vals music. They played instruments like guitars, violins, accordions, and marimbas. This type of music is not commonly heard there anymore.

Places to Visit

Tourist Spots

Las Vueltas has some beautiful natural places to explore:

• The Sumpul River flows through the Cantón El Conacaste.
• Areas like El Volcán, El Conacaste, and La Bola are known as "the boiler" because they have natural hot water.
• Above the Tamulasco River, you can find several natural pools, including one called La Sirena.

Ancient Art Sites

There are also interesting archaeological sites with ancient stone art, called petroglyphs:

• In Sicahuite, you can find stone art and other old materials.
• Plan de Barro also has stone art.
• More stone art is found in Las Vueltas itself and in El Conacaste.
• The area of Los Naranjos also features stone art.

These petroglyphs seem to form a line, possibly running from north to south. They pass through places like El Zapotal and El Tablon, all the way up to San Juan Olosingo near the border with Honduras. Many of these drawings were made by the ancient Lenca people.

Farming and Food

Agricultural Products

The people of Las Vueltas mostly grow corn, beans, and sorghum. Most of what they grow is used to feed their own families. Only a small amount is sold. They also grow other crops like melons, cucumbers, and squash.

Traditional Foods and Drinks

Traditional foods in Las Vueltas include beans, tortillas, metas, soups, sweets, and seeds. Other popular dishes and drinks are:

• Many kinds of pupusas (corn tortillas filled with different ingredients).
• Tamales (corn dough wrapped and cooked).
• Coffee made from corn or sorghum.
• Soups made with local vegetables.
• Sweetened ayote, which is a type of local squash.
• Atole made from fruits.
• Natural fruit juices from local fruits, like nance.

Most of the ingredients for these foods and drinks come from the local area. These traditional ways of eating are becoming less common as more people buy foods from stores.

Sister City

Las Vueltas has a special connection with another city:

• Windsor in Ontario, Canada.

See also

In Spanish: Las Vueltas para niños