Volcanoes and Valentines

Yes, THE DAY I left Nicaragua and came back to the US, Volcano Telica erupted. Women and children have been evacuating to designated evacuation centers. The falling ash will definitely affect the crops for the year. And seismic activity continues, according to INETER, Nicaragua’s Institute of Territorial Studies “The seismic center has been posted in the last 12 hours more than 800 microearthquakes, of these 55 have been located, with magnitudes between 0.7 to 2.5 on Richter scale with depths between 1 to 15 km.” (translated)

In short, I need to go back to Nicaragua… this week. Until then, here’s a link to Reuters footage of the plume: http://www.reuters.com/video/2011/05/19/nicaraguan-volcanos-dramatic-eruption?videoId=210940221

And a picture I took of Telica in the distance before the eruption, looking ready to blow:

Beehives near Momotombo Volcano

Seeing the 6,000 year-old footprints preserved by volcanic material in Acahualinca, Managua, was amazing. Several meters deep into the ground, this layer of mud with footprints of people and animals were found accidentally. Only a small tract is being preserved and open for viewing, but it is apparent that the path people walked on continues even farther. This existing layer beneath a barrio of Managua would be any wannabe archaeologist’s playground, but a lack of funding stunts further excavation.

Geothermal plant at the base of Momotombo Volcano.

With all the talk of energy and various sources in reach, volcanoes are a consistent and powerful source of natural energy to tap into and Nicaragua is rich with this geothermal energy. With a constant rising demand for energy in Nicaragua, several projects are underway to expand the use of geothermal energy. The Inter-American Development Bank is currently implementing a project in San Jacinto.

I am in the north where the mountains hold a lot of history, where guerrilla fighters would hide out and a lot of Sandinista/Contra battles were held. The land is actually a lot of tertiary volcanoes, and soil is fertile. I spent the last week taking photos for an organization which does some truly inspiring work here: see pics here. And for the next couple of weeks, which includes Semana Santa, I will go further and deeper into the mountains…

Yes I climbed to the top of San Cristobal, the tallest volcano in Nicaragua. It was one of those climbs where each step takes you 2 feet up, but you slide 1 foot back down. This man, who lives at the base of this volcano, has lived here all his life and has climbed up and down dozens of times. He remembers deer roaming around, but now the gases don’t allow for much life at the top.

Thanks to all the amazing backers, the Kickstarter project PHASE ONE is complete! PHASE TWO is to take more photos for at least 1 month more. PHASE THREE is editing, editing, editing, and preparing the book and final set.

I am currently in Jinotega, working with AVODEC and Esperanca.org taking photos of the projects they have in this mountainous area. Right now there is a surgical team from the US performing operations for people who have been on an endless “waiting list.” This jolly man has had this growth on his head for 24 years. He covered it with a fancy cowboy hat, but complained that he always has to buy a large size which isn’t usually available. In less than an hour, the operation changed his life.

In the past week, there have been over 20 recorded tremblors around Cerro Negro, according to Ineter’s website which monitors seismologic activity: link. Walking around a farming community by this volcano with Ronaldo (seen below), I was quite surprised that his response to possible eruptions is quite different from the “no fear” mentality on Ometepe. When the earthquakes shook up the land last week, he said he couldn’t sleep at all. Perhaps since this volcano is so young relatively (the youngest in Central America, forming just in 1850), its presence is not yet ingrained in the psyche. But there is no doubt that another eruption could be catastrophic to those living here, including 20-year-old Ronaldo and his large family- his father has 50 children.

On the Altagracia church grounds is where some pre-Colombian basalt anthropomorphic idols sit. The interplay of indigenous culture and Christianity when the Spaniards came is indicative of peoples’ mixed belief systems today. When the church was first being built, pillars were built on top of an indigenous temple to gain the trust of the people, but to me it sounds more like a display of dominance. This is the church with a cloud-covered volcano in the background: