What if I told you that even rivers have stories to tell? This is the story of Río Sucio. León is the second largest city in Nicaragua. It lies along the Río Chiquito. Río Chiquito means Little River. León is about 90 kilometers northwest of Managua. It is also about 18 kilometers east of the Pacific Ocean coast.
León has been the political and intellectual center of Nicaragua for a long time. Its National Autonomous University of Nicaragua was founded in 1813. That makes it the second oldest university in Central America. León is an important industrial center. It is also agricultural and commercial. The city exports sugar cane. It also exports cattle peanut plantain and sorghum.
Many of Nicaragua’s most famous poets called León home. These poets include Rubén Darío Alfonso Cortés and Salomón de la Selva.
The first city named León was founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. It was about 30 kilometers east of where we stand now. A series of earthquakes and a volcanic eruption led to the city’s abandonment in 1610. The ruins of that city are known as León Viejo. They were excavated in 1960. León Viejo became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
León was Nicaragua’s capital city. In 1839 Nicaragua withdrew from the United Provinces of Central America. León became the capital of the new nation. For some years the capital moved between León and Granada. Liberal administrations preferred León. Conservative administrations preferred Granada. Managua became the permanent capital in 1852. This was a compromise proposed by Fulgencio Vega. He was the then Supreme Director of Nicaragua.
In 1950 León had a population of 31000 people. Nicaraguan president Anastasio Somoza García was shot in León. He was mortally wounded on September 21 1956.
León is rich in monuments and historical places. One architectural monument is Cárcel la 21. It was a jail in the San Sebastian neighborhood. It housed political prisoners. It was a symbol of torture. Construction began in 1910. It was first occupied in 1921. Blanca Aráuz was incarcerated there. She was a National Heroine. During the Somoza regime it housed political prisoners. These prisoners were disappeared by the Guardia Nacional. The facade was destroyed in 1979. Since 2000 the jail has been an art museum.
The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of León is another monument. It is a typical colonial baroque building. It was built between 1747 and 1814. Its walls have withstood earthquakes. They have also endured eruptions of the Cerro Negro volcano. Bombings during civil wars also tested its strength. Cannons were placed on the roof in 1824. They were also placed there during the 1979 revolution.
The Assumption is the largest cathedral in Central America. It has been the first episcopal seat of Nicaragua since 1531. It is one of the oldest dioceses in the Americas. Several illustrious figures are buried in the cathedral’s crypts. These figures include Rubén Darío Salomón de la Selva and Alfonso Cortés. Miguel Larreynaga José de la Cruz Mena and several bishops are also buried there.
Tunnels connect the cathedral with other temples. They were used as hideouts or escape routes. This was during attacks by British Dutch and French pirates. The tunnels are not accessible to the public now. Some have been converted to the sewer system service.
The Church of Sutiava is the oldest intact church in León. It is considered the main temple after the cathedral. Its construction began in 1698. It was completed August 24 1710. The tower dome was destroyed in 1844. It was rebuilt in the early 20th century.
León sits in the coastal lowlands of northwestern Nicaragua. Volcanoes and hills are visible to the east. The average annual temperature is 27.9 °C. The yearly cumulative precipitation is 1902 mm.
Geological features around León include Poneloya beach. It is a major tourist destination. The Momotombo volcano is also nearby. Its summit is 1300 m. It is a visual reference in the Leonese landscape. Cerro Negro volcano is one of the youngest in the world. It was formed in 1850.
León is twinned with several cities. These twin towns and sister cities foster international relations. They create bonds of friendship and cooperation. As the Río Sucio flows let us remember the stories of León. Let us remember its history its culture and its people.