Pearl Lagoon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pearl Lagoon
Laguna de Perlas (Spanish)
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Municipal wharf of Pearl Lagoon
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 Pearl Lagoon
Location in Nicaragua
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| Country |  Nicaragua |
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| Department |  South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region |
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| Municipality | Pearl Lagoon | |
| Seat | Pearl City | |
| Area | ||
| • Municipality | 1,963 km2 (758 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2022 estimate)
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| • Municipality | 21,360 | |
| • Density | 10.881/km2 (28.182/sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 11,170 | |
Pearl Lagoon (Spanish: Laguna de Perlas) is a town and an area in Nicaragua. It is often called just Lagoon. Long ago, it was known as English Bank. This area is part of the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region.
Pearl Lagoon is the most important town in the largest coastal lagoon of the same name. The town gets its name from this lagoon. In 2022, about 21,360 people lived in the Pearl Lagoon area.
Contents
A Look at Pearl Lagoon's History
From 1655 to 1860, the eastern part of what is now Nicaragua was a British protectorate. This means it was protected and partly controlled by Britain. During this time, the area was called the Mosquito Coast.
Before 1894, the British protected eastern Nicaragua. It was ruled by Miskito kings. About 100 years ago, Pearl Lagoon was thought to be the second capital of the Moskitian Kingdom. The last Miskito King lived in the town of Pearl City, which is the main town of the Pearl Lagoon area.
Long ago, a Spanish explorer called Pearl Lagoon "the Granada of the Mosquitia." He said this because it was very beautiful and had lots of ships coming and going.
There is an 18th-century cannon on the wharf in Pearl Lagoon. It has a message about old battles. But this cannon was never used for fighting. It was only fired during celebrations!
Discover the Culture of Pearl Lagoon
Most people in Pearl Lagoon are Creole. But there are also many Miskito, Mestizo, and some Garifuna people. Mestizo people started moving here in the late 1990s. Some came from El Rama, and others from the northern part of the Pearl Lagoon area.
Just like in Bluefields, the May Pole celebration is very important here. In May, people from all over the Pearl Lagoon area come together. They celebrate and share their different cultures and traditions.
Some of the main communities in the area are Haulover, Kakabila, Marshall Point, Pearl Lagoon, Orinoco, La Fe, Raitipura, Brown Bank, Tasbapauni, Set Net Point, Wawashan, San Vicente, Awas, and Pedregal.
Sports in Pearl Lagoon
Pearl Lagoon used to have four local baseball teams. They played on Sundays during the dry season. The teams were Sweet Pearly, First Stop, The Young Brave, and the Haulover Tigers.
Two famous baseball pitchers, Albert Williams and Devern Hansack, are from Pearl Lagoon. They both played in Major League Baseball!
Even though those old teams are gone, baseball is still a very popular sport. People play it on Sundays during the dry season at the Harry and Maggie Taylor municipal stadium.
Getting Around Pearl Lagoon
The Pearl Lagoon area is just north of Bluefields. Bluefields is the capital of the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. You can get to Pearl Lagoon by boat or by a type of small boat called a Panga.
In 2006, a new road was started. It is 17 kilometers long and goes from Kukra Hill to Pearl Lagoon. This road is now finished. It helps people travel directly from Pearl Lagoon to Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. The World Bank helped pay for this road.
For more than 10 years, a bus has traveled every day from Pearl Lagoon to Kukra Hill and back. About three years ago, the bus owner started a new trip. Now, a bus goes directly from Pearl Lagoon to Managua once a week.
Education in Pearl Lagoon
Pearl Lagoon has three schools. The Beulah Light Burn school is for younger students, including primary and pre-school. The Pearl Lagoon National Institute is only for secondary (high school) students. The Pearl Lagoon Academy of Excellence (PLACE) teaches students from pre-school all the way through secondary school.
See also
In Spanish: Laguna de Perlas para niños
