Quilalí facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Quilalí
Valle de Panlío de los Cinco Ríos
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Municipality
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Quilalí as seen from the highway between Ocotal and Quilalí
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 Quilalí
Location in Nicaragua
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| Country |  Nicaragua |
| Department | Nueva Segovia Department |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 131 sq mi (339 km2) |
| Population
(2022 estimate)
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| • Municipality | 34,889 |
| • Density | 266.6/sq mi (102.92/km2) |
| • Urban | 11,252 |
Quilalí is a town and a municipality in the Nueva Segovia Department of Nicaragua. It is a vibrant place with a rich culture and strong community spirit.
Contents
Exploring Quilalí: A Mountain Town in Nicaragua
Quilalí is located in a high mountainous area of Nicaragua. It is the main town in the Nueva Segovia Department. The town is about 264 kilometers north of Managua, the capital city. It is also 80 kilometers east of Ocotal, which is the capital of its department.
People and Lifestyle in Quilalí
The town of Quilalí has over 13,000 residents. The entire municipality, including the surrounding rural areas, is home to nearly 30,600 people. The town itself has 17 neighborhoods, called barrios. These are set up in a grid pattern with cobblestone streets around a central park. There are also 54 rural communities nearby.
Most people in Quilalí earn their living through farming. They mainly grow basic grains like corn and beans. Coffee cultivation is also a very important crop for the area.
Understanding Economic Challenges
Even with rich soil for farming, many people in Quilalí face economic difficulties. Finding jobs is hard, and many people are underemployed. This means they work, but not as much as they want or need. Some people work for others and earn very little money each day. Even government workers sometimes wait months for their pay.
Goods can also be more expensive in Quilalí. The town is somewhat isolated due to rough terrain. Mountains and rivers can make roads difficult to use, especially during the rainy season. This makes it costly to transport goods into the town.
Families in Quilalí often have many children. This can make it even harder for families to make ends meet. Sometimes, children leave school early to help their families earn money. They take on small jobs to support their households.
Local Politics and Community Life
The local government in Quilalí is led by the Constitutionalist Liberal Party (Nicaragua). However, the national government is controlled by the Sandinistas. This means that job opportunities can sometimes depend on which political party someone supports. Quilalí is one of the few towns where the Sandinistas do not control the local government. This is partly because of past events in the 1930s.
Celebrating in Quilalí: Festivals and Traditions
Quilalí celebrates all the national holidays of Nicaragua. It also has special events unique to the town.
Honoring Saint Joseph: The Patron Saint Festival
Like many Nicaraguan cities, Quilalí celebrates its Patron Saint, Saint Joseph, on March 19. For about a week before and a weekend after this date, the town is full of celebrations. People go on pilgrimages to communities within Quilalí. There is also a traditional hípica, which is a horse parade. This parade usually happens on the Sunday after March 19.
During this time, the Quilalí fairgrounds become a lively place. You can see bull rings, Ferris wheels, and temporary bars. It's a time for fun and community gathering.
The Annual Corn Festival in San Bartolo
Another special celebration takes place in San Bartolo. This is the largest rural community within the Quilalí municipality. San Bartolo hosts the annual Corn Festival. This festival celebrates all things made from corn. You can find delicious foods like tamales and puddings. There is even corn alcohol available for sale.
Local cooks prepare these foods, and judges decide who made the best dishes. The festival also includes floats made by the local high school. There is a soccer tournament and a dance to help raise money for the graduating class.
Climate in Quilalí
Quilalí experiences a tropical climate. The weather box below shows the average temperatures and rainfall for the area.
| Climate data for Quilalí (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.6 (88.9) |
33.1 (91.6) |
36.1 (97.0) |
36.1 (97.0) |
34.9 (94.8) |
34.3 (93.7) |
31.9 (89.4) |
31.1 (88.0) |
32.5 (90.5) |
32.5 (90.5) |
32.0 (89.6) |
29.6 (85.3) |
33.0 (91.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 22.8 (73.0) |
23.4 (74.1) |
24.8 (76.6) |
26.2 (79.2) |
26.9 (80.4) |
25.8 (78.4) |
24.8 (76.6) |
24.3 (75.7) |
25.3 (77.5) |
25.1 (77.2) |
24.0 (75.2) |
23.0 (73.4) |
24.7 (76.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.5 (54.5) |
12.5 (54.5) |
13.5 (56.3) |
15.0 (59.0) |
17.9 (64.2) |
18.4 (65.1) |
17.9 (64.2) |
17.2 (63.0) |
18.3 (64.9) |
17.0 (62.6) |
14.7 (58.5) |
12.7 (54.9) |
15.6 (60.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 27 (1.1) |
14 (0.6) |
12 (0.5) |
28 (1.1) |
107 (4.2) |
233 (9.2) |
224 (8.8) |
205 (8.1) |
226 (8.9) |
223 (8.8) |
71 (2.8) |
39 (1.5) |
1,409 (55.5) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 11 | 10 | 143 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Sports and Recreation in Quilalí
Baseball is a very popular sport in Quilalí. Many people enjoy playing and watching games. The Quilalí Municipal Championships are especially exciting for local fans.
Quilalí's International Connections: Sister Cities
Quilalí has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called sister cities. They help promote cultural exchange and friendship.
Salt, Spain
South Haven, United States
Gallery
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A corn field in a rural community of Quilalí.
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A farmer on his small coffee farm in the highlands of Quilalí.
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Main Street into town during Fiestas Patronales.
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Judging the Nacatamales at the San Bartolo Corn Festival 2010.
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2011 Municipal Baseball Champions, Los Primos.
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A makeshift bar at the plaza during Fiestas Patronales.
See also
In Spanish: Quilalí para niños
