“This river doesn’t look like a garbage dump, does it?”
You’d be forgiven for lowering your gaze to the flowing waters of the Río San Benito and expecting the worst. León, a city full of stories whispered through the ages, also carries the burden of pollution in some of its waterways. The Río San Benito, a tributary of the Río Chiquito, sadly hasn’t always escaped this fate. Deforestation and disregard for the environment have taken their toll in the past. However, you might be pleasantly surprised by the sight before you. The Río San Benito, like the city it flows through, demonstrates a resilience, a fight for survival against the odds. This river, a vein running through the heart of León, speaks to the larger story of Nicaragua itself. A story of beauty marred by hardship, yet always striving for renewal.