Ometepe
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 Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Lake Cocibolca |
| Coordinates | 11°30′N 85°35′W / 11.500°N 85.583°W |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Major islands | 1 |
| Area | 276 km2 (107 sq mi) |
| Length | 31 km (19.3 mi) |
| Width | 10 km (6 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,610 m (5,280 ft) |
| Highest point | Concepción |
| Administration | |
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Nicaragua
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| Department | Rivas, Nicaragua |
| Largest settlement | Altagracia (pop. 4,081) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 29,684 (June 2005) |
| Pop. density | 107.6 /km2 (278.7 /sq mi) |
Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes (Volcán Maderas and Volcán Concepción) rising out of Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome (two) and tepetl (mountain), meaning two mountains. It is the largest island in Lake Nicaragua.
The two volcanoes of Concepción and Maderas are joined by a low isthmus to form one island in the shape of an hourglass, dumbbell or peanut. Ometepe has an area of 276 km2. It is 31 km long and 5 to 10 km wide. The island has an economy based on , agriculture, and tourism. Plantains are the major crop.
The island first became inhabited during the Dinarte phase (c. 2000 BC – 500 BC), although evidence is questionable. The first known inhabitants were Nahua Indians from Mexico. In their footsteps came the Niquirano Indians who established an important settlement on the island. Traces of this past can still be found in petroglyphs and stone idols on the northern slopes of Maderas volcano. The oldest date from 300 BC.
After the Spaniards conquered the Central American region in the 16th century, pirates began prowling Lake Nicaragua. They came in from the Caribbean Sea via the San Juan River. The inhabitants of Ometepe were hard hit. The pirates kidnapped women, stole the inhabitants' animals, possessions, and harvest, and erected settlements on the shore, making it their refuge. This made the local population move to higher grounds on the volcanoes in search of shelter. The island was finally settled by the Spanish conquistadors at the end of the 16th century.
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Wikipedia