San Juan de Limay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Juan de Limay
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Municipality
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 San Juan de Limay
Location in Nicaragua
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| Country |  Nicaragua |
| Department | Estelí |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 205.0 sq mi (530.9 km2) |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Municipality | 17,434 |
| • Density | 85.052/sq mi (32.839/km2) |
| • Urban | 3,668 |
San Juan de Limay is a municipality in the Estelí department of Nicaragua. It is famous for its amazing sculptures made from a special stone called soapstone, also known as marmolina.
About San Juan de Limay
San Juan de Limay is located about 195 kilometers (121 miles) north of Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua. It is very close to the border with Honduras. The town itself is 281 meters (922 feet) above sea level. However, it is surrounded by tall mountains that can reach up to 1,400 meters (4,593 feet) high.
The Valley and Rivers
The town of Limay sits in a wide valley. This valley was formed where two rivers, the Queso and the Negro, meet. The mountains and rivers around Limay make it a bit isolated. This means traveling to and from the city of Estelí can be tricky. Roads are hard to maintain because of floods, falling rocks, mudslides, and erosion. These natural events constantly try to break down the roads that connect Limay to other places.
Getting to Limay
Traveling to San Juan de Limay from Estelí can be a tough journey. People often use old yellow school buses, which are a common way to travel in Nicaragua. The bus first travels about 10 kilometers (6 miles) on the main Pan American Highway. Then, it turns off onto a different road.
This part of the journey is about 37 kilometers (23 miles) long. The road is often bumpy, rocky, and sometimes muddy. It can even become impassable at times. As you travel, you can see what is left of the pine forests and fields of grain on the mountainsides. You can also see the city of Estelí far in the distance. The fresh, cool air of the northern mountains helps make the crowded bus ride more comfortable.
Once the bus crosses this high area, the valley of Limay comes into view. This happens near a place called Tepiscayán. For many years, artists from Limay have collected the marmolina stone they use for their sculptures from this very spot. In good weather, the trip from Estelí to Limay can take 2 to 3 hours on this challenging road. The total trip from Managua to Limay is about 195 kilometers (121 miles) and usually takes around 5 hours.
See also
In Spanish: San Juan de Limay para niños
