Maderas
The slopes of Maderas are one of the few places on the Pacific side of Nicaragua where cloud forests grow. The only other place where this ecosystem can be found is the Mombacho volcano. Cloud forests are characterized by a rich plant and animal life, made possible by the high levels of humidity in the climate. Prehistoric petroglyphs have been found at the Maderas volcano.
Climbing to the top of the volcano is a popular tourist activity. Tourists are strongly encouraged by local guiding companies to hire a guide, but the trail from the common starting point at Finca Magdalena is easy to see the entire way to the top. The hike to the top of the crater can be difficult, with steep inclines that become muddy during rainy weather. It rains often on Ometepe Island, so a slippery climb is likely, even in the dry season. The round-trip hike takes between 6 and 9 hours and changes from dry forest to humid forest to cloud forest.
There are a number of animal species that dwell on the volcano, including the white-faced monkey, mountain crab, howler monkeys, and a number of butterflies including the blue morphos.
See also
References
- ^ "Maderas". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2006-02-06.
- ^ "Ometepe Island Info - Volcán Concepción". ometepeislandinfo.com.
- ^ "Ometepe Island Info - Volcán Maderas". ometepeislandinfo.com.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Laguna_de_Maderas_by_ET.jpg/220px-Laguna_de_Maderas_by_ET.jpg)
External links
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