Chichigalpa () is a town and municipality in the Chinandega Department of Nicaragua.

History

Pre-Columbian

It is presumed that Chichigalpa's first inhabitants arrived from the north. While their civilizations were not as advanced as those of the Aztecs and the Incans, they arrived at Chichigalpa due to a forced migration instituted by the Aztecs on weaker tribes. Of Toltec origin, the native people of Chichigalpa were the Niquiranos and Chorotegas.

Colonial Period

Geography

Area

The municipality covers an area of 223 km², but only about 3.5 km² make up the center of the municipality and its nearby surroundings. Chichigalpa is connected to the city of Chinandega by a paved road (15 km). The municipality connects to the Nicaraguan capital, Managua, through the Pan-American Highway. Chichigalpa forms part of the Western

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

of Chinandega. It is bordered to the north by the

Cordillera Los Maribios Cordillera de Maribios (or Cordillera de Marrabios) is a mountain range in León and Chinandega departments, western Nicaragua, at and about 64.4 km (40 mi) long. It is a volcanic range comprised most notably by San Cristóbal 1745 m ...

(a mountain range), to the south by León, to the east by Posoltega, and to the west by the municipalities of El Realejo and Chinandega.

Climate

Chichigalpa is situated in tropical wet and dry climate ( Köppen climate classification: Aw). The dry season last from November to April while the wet season extends from May to October. The average annual precipitation is of 1742 mm (68.58 in). Temperatures are usually the highest in the month of April. The average temperature is 30 °C (89 °F). Relative humidity is 68% and strong winds blow in a northeast to south direction predominantly.

Today

Sugarcane

Sugar accounts from about 5% of Nicaragua’s GDP and the municipality of Chichigalpa has vast areas of sugarcane plantations. A large number of the sugar cane workers have been affected with a chronic kidney disease (CKD). There is a growing scientific view that CKD is linked to harsh work conditions, particularly long hours exposed to sun without sufficient shade, rest and water. Dr Catharina Wesseling, an epidemiologist based at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden said that while other factors - such as pesticides, heavy metals and genetics – could also play a part, there was “absolutely no doubt” that CKD was an occupational disease.

Neighborhoods (Comarcas)

The municipality is further divided into many neighborhoods (Comarcas): * Candelaria * Camino de Jesús * Carlos Fonseca I, II * Concepción * El Pueblito * Erick Ramirez * Juan Jose Briceño * La Parroquia * La Cruz * Las Palmeras * Los Lirios * Mercedes * Marvin Salazar I, II, III * Modesto Ramón Palma * Nueva Candelaria * Nuevo Amanecer * Quetzalia * Ronald Altamirano II * Reparto. 13 de Julio * Santiago * San Antonio * Valle Viejo I, II * Wells

References

External links

Mi Chichigalpa.com

Bibliography

*''Historia del Municipio de Chichigalpa'', 2000 *''Sinopsis Histórica de Chichigalpa'' {{Authority control Municipalities of the Chinandega Department