Diriamba

Diriamba
Municipality
Diriamba clocktower
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Birthplace of the national football, of the national hipicas and of the Güegüense.
Diriamba Location in Nicaragua
Coordinates: 11°51′N 86°14′W / 11.850°N 86.233°W / 11.850; -86.233
Country	Nicaragua
Department	Carazo Department
Area
• Land	135 sq mi (349 km2)
Elevation	1,745 ft (532 m)
Population (2005)
• Municipality	57,542
• Urban	35,222

Diriamba is a municipality in the Carazo department of Nicaragua, with a population of 57,542 (2005). It is located 41 km west of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.

Coordinates: 11°51′N 86°14′W / 11.850°N 86.233°W / 11.850; -86.233

The city's elevation (just above 500 meters above sea level), and the geography of the cordillera upon which it sits, lend it a constantly mild weather (though notoriously windy January through March).

Managua, like much of Western Nicaragua except for the Sierras, has a tropical climate with constant temperatures averaging between 28 and 32 °C (82 and 90 °F). Under Köppen’s climate classification, the city has a tropical wet and dry climate. A distinct dry season exists between November and April, while most of the rainfall is received between May and October. Temperatures are highest in March and April, when the sun lies directly overhead and the summer rainfall has yet to begin.

Historically, Diriamba had mulberry plantations. British writer, John Baily, wrote in 1850 that the plantations lacked in management, and that great amounts of silk could be produced if more care was shown to the plantations.

Diriamba is home to three principal churches, one of them being La Basilica de San Sebastian, the foundation stone was laid out in 1891, but the Basilica inaugurated until 1939. Other important landmarks are the clock tower and the former site of the El Aguacate hydroelectric dam, now simply a waterfall.