Ometepe - Citizendia

Ometepe Island
Charco Verde Nature Reserve in Ometepe.
Geography

Location	Lake Cocibolca
Total islands	1
Major islands	Ometepe
Area	276 km²
Administration
Nicaragua
Department	Rivas, Nicaragua
Demographics
Population	35,000

The Island of Ometepe was formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America For the town and archaeological site in Costa Rica see Rivas Costa Rica. Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America Its name derives from the Nahuatl words Ome = two and Tepetl = mountain, meaning two mountains. Nahuatl ( is a group of related languages and dialects of the Aztecan or Nahuan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family

The Volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas, are joined by a low isthmus to form one island, giving it the form of an hourglass. Concepción is one of two Volcanoes (along with Maderas) that form the island of Ometepe, which is situated in Lake Nicaragua in Nicaragua With a height of 1394 m Maderas is the smaller of the two Volcanoes which make up the island of Ometepe, situated in Lake Nicaragua in Nicaragua An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas An hourglass, also known as a sandglass, sand timer or sand clock, is a device for the measurement of Time. Ometepe has an area of 276 km². Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of It is 31 km long and 5 to 10 km wide. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand ^[1] The island has a population of 35,000, and an economy based on livestock, agriculture, and tourism. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Plantains are the major crop. The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the

1 The inhabitants of Ometepe
2 The two volcanoes
3 Archaeology of Ometepe Island
- 3.1 Ceramics of Ometepe
- 3.2 Petroglyphs of Ometepe
4 Wildlife In Ometepe
5 Notes
6 References
7 External links
8 Gallery

The inhabitants of Ometepe

The island first became inhabited in the Dinarte phase (ca 2000-500 BC), although evidence is sketchy. The 20th century BC is a Century which lasted from the year 2000 BC to 1901 BC The first known inhabitants were Nahua Indians from Mexico. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. In their footsteps came the Niquirano Indians, who established an important settlement on the island. Their ceramics and monuments still amaze. Ceramics and ceramic art in the art world means artwork made out of clay bodies and fired to form a ceramic. A monument is a structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of past

Traces of this past can still be found in petroglyphs and stone idols on the northern slopes of Maderas volcano. Petroglyphs are Images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising pecking carving and abrading Idolatry is usually defined as Worship of any Cult image, Idea, or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. The oldest date from 300 BC. Events By place Egypt Pyrrhus, the King of Epirus, is taken as a hostage to Egypt after the Battle of Ipsus

After the Spaniards had conquered the Central American region in the 16th century, pirates began prowling Lake Nicaragua. Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering They came in from the Caribbean Sea via the San Juan River. For the region see Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea (kəˈrɪbiən or /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ is a tropical Sea in the Western Hemisphere The inhabitants of Ometepe were hard hit. The pirates robbed them of their women, animals, possessions and harvest. They also erected settlements on the shore, making it their refuge. This made the local population, seeking shelter, move to higher grounds on the volcanoes.

Ometepe was finally annexed, through settlement, by the Spanish conquistadors at the end of the 16th century. This article is about the Spanish explorer soldiers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuriesfor other uses see Conquistador (disambiguation A Conquistador But French, English (such as Francis Drake) and Dutch pirates still endangered the island until the late 17th century. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral, (c 1540 &ndash 27 January 1595 was an English Privateer, navigator, Slaver, and politician The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar

The most important villages on the island are Moyogalpa, with its harbour, and Altagracia on the eastern side of the island. Many traditions are kept alive. They celebrate more religious and folk festivals than anywhere in Nicaragua. A festival is an event usually and ordinarily staged by a local community which centers on some unique aspect of that community Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America

Today, Ometepe is developing tourism and ecotourism, with the archaeological past and the bounty of its nature sanctuary, the exotic vegetation, animal and bird life as trump cards. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is a form of Tourism that appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos

More recently in 2005, an earthquake measuring 6. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer 2 on the Richter scale occurred as a result of increasing pressure within the active Concepción volcano. The Richter magnitude scale, or more correctly local magnitude M L scale assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released Cracks appeared in the roads on Ometepe and advice to leave the island was issued. This was the first minor eruption since 1999. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)

The two volcanoes

Volcán Concepción (once named Ometepe volcano) is the northwest half of the island. Concepción is a symmetrical cone, and is still considered an active volcano (Baker, 2006). Concepción volcano rose in the early Holocene Epoch and, through continual eruptions, now reaches an altitude of 1 610 m. The Holocene is a Geological epoch which began approximately 10000 years ago (about 8000 BC It is the world's highest lake island. This volcano is considered the most perfectly formed volcano cone in Central America. The volcano went through a long quiet period, but on 8 December 1880 Concepción came back to life. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year This eruption was extensive, and the volcano remained active for a year. More eruptions followed in 1883, 1889, 1902, 1907, and 1924. Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1907 ( MCMVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The most recent eruption was in 1957. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) This eruption was extremely violent; however few of the island's inhabitants heeded the order from the government in Managua to evacuate the island. Managua is the Capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name

The southeast half of the island consists of Volcán Madera, which has a crater lake and supports a diverse rainforest environment. This volcano also arose in the Holocene Epoch, and rises 1 394 m above sea level. Mean sea level (MSL is the average (mean height of the Sea, with reference to a suitable reference surface The last eruption occurred in the 13th century. It is considered extinct or dormant. A large lagoon formed in its crater, and was discovered on 15 April 1930 by the farmer Casimiro Murillo. A lagoon is a body of comparatively shallow salt or Brackish water separated from the deeper Sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank, coral A volcanic crater is a circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It is covered with coffee and tobacco plantations and the remaining rain forest. This volcano is a perfect destination for the ecotourist. Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is a form of Tourism that appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals Much of this part of the island is now a nature reserve.

The volcanic ash has made the soil of this island extremely fertile, allowing continuous planting without fallowing. Volcanic ash consists of small Tephra, which are bits of pulverized rock and glass created by volcanic eruptions less than in diameter Fertility is the natural capability of giving life As a measure "Fertility Rate" is the number of children born per couple person or population The volcanoes are visible from everywhere on the island, and life on Ometepe revolves closely around them. They also play an important part in the myths and legends of the island, which once served as an Indian burial ground.

Panorama of Ometepe Island.

Archaeology of Ometepe Island

Children standing by a pre-Columbian stone idol.

Ometepe Island is generally included within the archaeological area of “Greater Nicoya,” which also encompasses the Rivas area on the lake shore and descends into Costa Rican Nicoya Peninsula. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos Nicoya is a town in Costa Rica 's Guanacaste province, and one of its most important tourist zones Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in Due to the deposits of volcanic ash over the millennia, the soil is very fertile, allowing constant planting without fallowing. This rich environment has allowed the island to be continuously inhabited since the Dinarte phase (ca. 2000 – 500 B. C. ). There is a classified “Ometepe period” (A. D. 1350 – 1550) Greater Nicoyan Period, which corresponds to Mesoamerican Postclassic period. Mesoamerica or Meso-America (Mesoamérica is a Region extending approximately from central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua, defined This period is associated with the migration of the Nicarao (Nahua speakers) into the area of Greater Nicoya (McCafferty & Steinbrenner, 2005). Nicarao is the name of the then-leader and/or the capital city of the most populous indigenous tribe when the Spanish arrived in Nicaragua.

The archaeologists who have done fieldwork on the island over the years are:

1880s: J. F. Bransford
1959-1961: excavations by Dr. Gordon Willey and Albert Norweb. Gordon Randolph Willey ( 7 March, 1913 &ndash 28 April, 2002) was an American Archaeologist famous for his fieldwork in
1962: Wolfgang Haberland and Peter Schmidt
1995 – 1999: Susan Baker - Ometepe Petroglyph Project

Ceramics of Ometepe

Dr. Peter Schmidt may refer to Peter Schmidt (artist, a British artist and teacher Peter Schmidt (writer, a German writer (contemporary Gordon Willey and Albert Norweb excavated the Cruz site (named after the Cruz Hacienda), on the North East part of the island. This site is important because it produced nearly 30,000 sherds, most of which belonged to the Late Polychrome Period. The upper levels of the site produced the diagnostic ceramic types which came to define the Late Polychrome Period for the whole of the Rivas area. Pieces were also found from the San Jorge phase of the Zoned Bichrome Period (Healy, 1980).

The Ceramic Type "Ometepe Red Slipped-Incised" is found on Ometepe Island. It is a Late Polychrome Period ceramic type, and it is usually found in the form of jar sherds. This type of ceramic is identifiable because it is scraped on both the inside and out, and smoothing and polishing is done on the exterior body and rim. The slip, over the rim and outside, is a dull red to brown, while only the inside of the neck is slipped. Lines are cut into the lip of the jar, and triangles are the most common motif, either interlocking or meeting tip to tip. Other ceramic types found on the island include: Granada Polychrome from the Middle Polychrome Period, Castillo Late Polychrome, and Luna Ware Polychrome (Healy, 1980).

Petroglyphs of Ometepe

Petroglyph

The Ometepe Petroglyph Project was a volunteer field survey of the Maderas half of Ometepe from 1995 – 1999. This project intensively surveyed 15 km of the Maderas half of the island over five field seasons. The project mapped 73 archaeological sites within this 15 km area, including almost 1700 petroglyph panels on 1400 boulders. Petroglyphs are Images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising pecking carving and abrading

Of the 73 sites surveyed by the Ometepe Petroglyph Project, petroglyphs were recorded at all but one. Many of the petroglyphs on Ometepe contain spirals, and “meander” across the rock face. Stylized turtles are a common motif for the area. Turtles are Reptiles of the Order Testudines (all living turtles belong to the Crown group Chelonia) most of

The petroglyphs of Ometepe include some forms which are less common. Figures in many of the depictions are described as having “bowling ball faces” on human figures. As noted above, spirals are common, and are apparently used in several ways. Two attached spirals appear to represent the island, with its two volcanoes. Spirals also are used to depict the head of anthromorphic figures. Anthropomorphism is the attribution of uniquely Human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings natural and supernatural phenomena material states and objects

Some of the unusual formations seen within the petroglyphs on Ometepe include seats or steps carved into boulders, ovals, and big grooves. The purpose behind these forms has not yet been explained.

Between the 1995 and 1996 field seasons, ten sites were recorded. The greatest concentration of petroglyphs was noted at N-RIO-3, probably recorded by Haberland as Om-38. Located along the slopes and at the top and of a ridge, the site contains 82 boulders with petroglyphs, six mortars, two metates and a scatter of ceramics and chert lithics. A metate is a mortar, a Ground stone tool used for processing Grain and Seeds In traditional Mesoamerican culture metates were typically Chert (ˈtʃɝt is a fine-grained Silica -rich Microcrystalline, Cryptocrystalline or Microfibrous Sedimentary rock that may contain Archaeology, a lithic flake is a "portion of rock removed from an objective piece by percussion or pressure" and may also be referred to as a chip or spall or collectively Of the 149 petroglyphs recorded during 1996, most were located on land owned by the cooperative at the hacienda. When the program was expanded in 1997, to include volunteers, 20 volunteers participated in recording fifteen additional sites. The most impressive site, N-RIO-19, was greater than 180,000 square meters in area. Ninety-two petroglyphs, over 30 house mounds, stone statuary fragments, and pottery from at least three different periods of occupation were recorded at the site, and the material was being studied in Managua.

The Ometepe Petroglyph project is an interesting example of modern technology assisting in the recording of archaeological sites. As the prehistoric art sited were being surveyed and recorded, pictures were and taken of each site in both black and white. A video was even made at one site. Photos were then uploaded into a computer, and the Photoshop program was then use to increase the contrast of the photos, increasing the visibility of the petroglyphs pictured. This allowed for a more accurate record of sites that by necessity were photographed in less than ideal conditions and lighting. In addition to the remote area and poor lighting, on Ometepe Island, the depth of the engraved lines on petroglyphs thus far recorded varies from “immeasurably shallow” to around three centimeters (Ometepe Petroglyph Project Website, 2006).

Wildlife In Ometepe

Main article: Wildlife of Nicaragua

Ometepe harbors large populations of the White-faced Capuchin monkey, also called White-headed Capuchin (Cebus capucinus) and populations of the Mantled Howler monkey (Alouatta palliata). The Wildlife of Nicaragua includes its Flora and Fauna. Nicaragua has a wide variety of Wildlife, most of which live in wildlife reserves The White-headed Capuchin ( Cebus capucinus) also known as the White-faced Capuchin or White-throated Capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey The Mantled Howler ( Alouatta palliata) or sometimes the Golden-mantled Howling Monkey, is a species of Howler monkey, a type of New World monkey Efforts have been put in effect to study and protect these animals. The lake surrounding Ometepe harbours many species of aquatic animals, notably the Nicaragua shark, which until recently was thought to be a unique species of freshwater shark, but has since been shown to be continuous with ocean-populations. The bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as the bull whaler, Zambezi shark or unofficially known as Zambi in Africa and Nicaragua ^[2] Small populations of spider monkeys (Ateles s. Spider monkeys are New World monkeys of the family Atelidae, subfamily Atelinae. ) inhabit very small islands within Lake Nicaragua. These populations exist solely due to humans and many of the local fishermen routinely stop by and feed these troops.

Notes

^ "Tourism: Island of Ometepe", EAAI. Retrieved on 2007-10-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal.
^ Shark gallery

References

Baker, S. (2006). The Petroglyphs of Ometepe Island, Nicaragua. Retrieved October 24, 2006 from the world wide web at [1]
Healy, P. (1980). Archaeology of the Rivas Region, Nicaragua. Ontario:Wilfrid Laurier University Press
McCafferty, G. , & Steinbrenner, L. (2005). "Chronological implications for Greater Nicoya from the Santa Isabel Project, Nicaragua. ". Ancient Mesoamerica 16: 131-146. doi:10.1017/S0956536105050066. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document. abstract on line.
Ometepe Petroglyph Project Website (2006). Retrieved October 30, 2006 from the world wide web at [2]