Maderas

With a height of 1,394 metres (4,573 ft),Maderasis the smaller of the two volcanoes which make up the island ofOmetepe.The volcano, and the island upon which it sits, is situated inLake NicaraguainNicaragua,Central America.UnlikeConcepción,the other volcano on the island, Maderas has not been active in historical times. Its crater contains acrater lake.

Maderas (volcano)
Maderas, as seen from the south (April 2008)
Highest point
Elevation	1,394 m (4,573 ft)
Coordinates	11°26′46″N85°30′54″W
Geography
Maderas (volcano) Location in Nicaragua
Location	Rivas Department,Nicaragua
Geology
Mountain type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	Unknown

The slopes of Maderas are one of the few places on the Pacific side of Nicaragua wherecloud forestsgrow. The only other place where this ecosystem can be found is theMombachovolcano. Cloud forests are characterized by a rich plant and animal life, made possible by the high levels of humidity in the climate. Prehistoricpetroglyphshave 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 thewhite-faced monkey,mountain crab,howler monkeys,and a number of butterflies including the blue morphos.

See also

• List of volcanoes in Nicaragua

References

Laguna de Maderas, the crater lake.

External links

• Climbing the Maderas Volcano
• Ometepe Island Info - Volcán Maderas