Somoto Canyon National Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Somoto Canyon National Monument |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Coco River in Somoto Canyon National Monument
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 Somoto Canyon National Monument
Location in Nicaragua
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| Location | Madriz department, Nicaragua |
| Nearest city | El Espino |
| Area | 170.31 hectares (420.8 acres) |
| Established | 2006 |
| Governing body | Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources |
The Somoto Canyon National Monument (in Spanish: Monumento Nacional Cañón de Somoto) is an amazing natural canyon in the Madriz Department of Nicaragua. It's a special place that protects a beautiful part of nature.
This protected area covers about 170 hectares (or 420 acres). A big part of this area, about 125 hectares (309 acres), is the canyon itself.
Two rivers, the Tapacalí and Comali, meet at the top of the canyon. They form the Coco River, which then flows right through the canyon. The Coco River travels a long way, about 750 kilometers (466 miles), all the way to the Caribbean Sea.
The Somoto Canyon was officially named a national monument on November 29, 2006. It's one of 78 protected areas in Nicaragua. The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) helps take care of it.
How the Canyon Was Formed
Scientists believe the Somoto Canyon was formed a very long time ago. This happened between 5 and 13 million years ago, during a time called the Miocene period. Over millions of years, water slowly carved out the deep, narrow passages we see today.
Discovery and Tourism
Even though the canyon has been there for millions of years, it wasn't really explored by scientists until 2004. A group of scientists from the Czech Republic and Nicaragua (INETER) "discovered" it then.
After its discovery, the Somoto Canyon started to become a popular place for visitors. More and more people came to see its beauty, which has helped tourism in Nicaragua grow.
Protecting the Canyon
With more visitors, sometimes there have been challenges. For example, some people have written on the canyon walls. But park rangers and experts from MARENA and INETER work hard to clean and protect this special place. They want to make sure it stays beautiful for everyone to enjoy.
See also
- Somoto
- Tourism in Nicaragua
