Olopa facts for kids
Olopa is a town and an area in Guatemala. It's called a municipality and is part of the Chiquimula department. Imagine it like a county or a district.
The whole area of Olopa is about 112 square kilometers (that's about 43 square miles). It includes one main town, also called Olopa, and 29 smaller villages. Around 27,511 people live there.
Olopa is surrounded by other towns. To the north, it borders Jocotán. To the south and east, it's next to Esquipulas. To the west, you'll find Quezaltepeque and San Juan Hermitage. The weather in Olopa is a type of subtropical highland climate, which means it's usually mild and not too hot or too cold.
Contents
A Look Back: Olopa's History
Olopa has a long and interesting past.
Early Inhabitants
Long ago, the land where Olopa is now was home to the Ch'orti' people. They were the first to live there. Later, other groups from the Valley of Mexico came and settled in the area.
Building the First Church
In 1860, some religious people called the Capuchin Fathers came to the eastern part of Guatemala. They gave the people of Olopa a special picture called the "Image of the Divine Shepherd." They also helped build the very first church in Olopa. It was a simple church, made with straw.
Becoming a Municipality
By 1870, Olopa was known as an indigenous town with its straw church and a Catholic priest living there. On November 25, 1870, a local leader named Don Juan Peralta Baptist officially made Olopa a municipality. This meant it became its own recognized local government area.
Olopa's Climate and Weather
Olopa is located in the mountains, quite high up.
Altitude and Temperature
The town sits between 1,300 and 1,600 meters (about 4,265 to 5,250 feet) above sea level. Because it's so high, the temperature is usually pleasant. It ranges from about 18 to 25 degrees Celsius (64 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit).
Rainfall
Olopa gets a good amount of rain. On average, it rains about 130 days each year. This helps keep the land green and fertile.
See also
In Spanish: Olopa para niños
