Volcan Mombacho

Looming over the busy city of Granada is Volcan Mombacho. While currently in a state of slumber, fumaroles on its flanks and the countless isletas created in the not too distant past (speaking from the geoligist's viewpoint) are reminders to all who live and visit here that this is a very active geologic time and place.
Yesterday, Larry and I hired a taxi to take us to the park entrance at the base of the volcano. The driver waited for us while we jumped on a truck and were hauled up a windey, cobblestone road to the top.

We followed the one mile trail around one of the four craters....through a wonderland of misty forest filled with plants and animals unique to this particular habitat and found nowhere else in the world.
Lake Nicaragua and the isletas could be seen from viewpoints along the way.

The path took us into splits in the rock, formed sometime in the past when the earth shook and in minutes, a whole new landscape was created. I have to admit, I was a little nervous as we made our way through this stretch of the trail!

An archipelago of isletas was formed during a violent, explosive eruption which took place sometime in the past. It was easy to see from the vantage point we enjoyed, how the molten rock splattered out the top of Mombacho and created the archipelago.

The misty forests on the flanks of Mombacho are home to many species of butterflies and orchids, some of which are unique to this particular ecosystem. There is also a small desert environment adjoining the forest. At the park entrance, there is a reserve where butterflies are studied and live out their lives. An impressive collection of orchid plants is on display as well...though few were in bloom at thi time of year.