Ocotal

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title: "Ocotal" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["municipalities-of-the-nueva-segovia-department", "1543-establishments-in-the-spanish-empire", "populated-places-established-in-1543"] topic_path: "geography/spain" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocotal" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameOcotal
settlement_typeMunicipality
other_nameLa Sultana del Norte
native_name
image_skylineOcotal 1.jpg
imagesize250px
image_captionDowntown Ocotal
image_sealSeal of Ocotal.svg
seal_size65px
image_mapNueva Segovia Department with Ocotal highlighted.svg
mapsize220
map_captionOcotal in Nueva Segovia
dot_x
pushpin_mapNicaragua
pushpin_label_positionright
pushpin_mapsize250
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Nicaragua
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameNicaragua
subdivision_type1Department
subdivision_name1Nueva Segovia Department
leader_title1
established_title
established_title2
established_title3
unit_prefmetric
area_total_km285.2
area_land_km2
population_as_of2022 estimate
population_footnotes
population_total50178
population_density_km2auto
population_urban48765
population_blank1_titleEthnicities
population_blank2_titleReligions
]coordinates
elevation_footnotes
blank_nameClimate
blank_infoAw
postal_code_type
::

|name = Ocotal |settlement_type =Municipality |other_name = La Sultana del Norte |native_name =
|nickname = |motto = |image_skyline = Ocotal 1.jpg |imagesize = 250px |image_caption = Downtown Ocotal |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = Seal of Ocotal.svg |seal_size =65px |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = Nueva Segovia Department with Ocotal highlighted.svg |mapsize = 220 |map_caption = Ocotal in Nueva Segovia |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Nicaragua |pushpin_label_position = right |pushpin_mapsize = 250 |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Nicaragua |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Nicaragua |subdivision_type1 = Department |subdivision_name1 = Nueva Segovia Department |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =
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|established_date = |established_title2 =
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|established_date3 = |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = metric |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 85.2 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2022 estimate |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 50178 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = 48765 |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title =Ethnicities |population_blank1 = |population_blank2_title =Religions |population_blank2 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = ]|coordinates = |elevation_footnotes =
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Ocotal () is the capital of the Nueva Segovia Department in Nicaragua, Central America and the municipal seat of Ocotal Municipality.

History

The region occupied by the city of Ocotal was formerly occupied by different ethnic groups that had probably migrated from Mexico to Central America many centuries ago, speaking a variety of Nahuatl.

The gold deposits that were found on the banks of the Choluteca River and other places, motivated the establishment of Spanish settlements. The city was founded in 1543 under the name of Nueva Segovia but this was later changed to Ocotal, a Nahuatl word that means "pine resin".

In 1927, Ocotal suffered one of the first dive bombing attacks in history during a battle that pitted the American Marines and the Nicaraguan National Guard against Sandinista rebels.

During the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis, ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya set up a government-in-exile in the city briefly in July during reconciliation negotiations with coup leaders.

Description

Ocotal is the capital of the Nueva Segovia Department in Nicaragua. The main production is coffee, and lumbering. The city, with a population of 39,450 (as of 2000), is located in a valley. The name comes from the nahuatl root "ocotl" for pine resin, and the Spanish suffix "al", due to the abundance of ocote pines. Ocotal was the third Spanish colony (after León and Granada) founded in what would eventually be called the Province of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Its original name was Nueva Ciudad Segovia (New Segovia) and its foundation is credited to Rodrigo de Contreras in 1543.

Attractions include the Dipilto-Jalapa pine forests to the north, the Segovia River (775 km long) to the south, the indigenous and artisan town of Mozonte, as well as multiple hiking opportunities around its picturesque mountains. The old town center boasts some of the oldest colonial buildings in the region, such la Asuncion Parrish Church, as well as Plaza Central, a very well preserved garden in the middle of the commercial center featuring hundreds of species of flowers and tropical plants. Due to its valley location and close proximity to Nicaragua's highest mountains, enjoys cool weather, avoiding the extreme heat of the Pacific Zone in western Nicaragua. Some "yet-to-discover" activities also include hiking the majestic Mount Guásara, letting the Segovia or Coco River drag you down from "El Saltarin" all the way to Ocotal Bridge, or simply visiting one of the many surrounding coffee farms while enjoying the landscape. A day trip to El Rosario Waterfalls east from Ocotal is also worth visiting.

Geography

Characterised by steep hills in the north and south, plateaus in the west and a valley in the center. It lies at an altitude of 500 m above sea level.

Climate

| width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Ocotal (1961–1990) | Jan high C = 31.6 | Feb high C = 33.1 | Mar high C = 36.1 | Apr high C = 36.1 | May high C = 36.3 | Jun high C = 34.3 | Jul high C = 31.9 | Aug high C = 32.3 | Sep high C = 32.5 | Oct high C = 32.9 | Nov high C = 31.2 | Dec high C = 30.8 | year high C = 33.3 | Jan mean C = 22.4 | Feb mean C = 23.3 | Mar mean C = 24.9 | Apr mean C = 26.0 | May mean C = 26.3 | Jun mean C = 24.9 | Jul mean C = 24.3 | Aug mean C = 24.6 | Sep mean C = 24.6 | Oct mean C = 24.3 | Nov mean C = 23.3 | Dec mean C = 22.5 | year mean C = 24.3 | Jan low C = 12.0 | Feb low C = 12.6 | Mar low C = 15.0 | Apr low C = 17.2 | May low C = 18.9 | Jun low C = 18.6 | Jul low C = 17.6 | Aug low C = 17.4 | Sep low C = 18.1 | Oct low C = 16.9 | Nov low C = 14.3 | Dec low C = 12.7 | year low C = 15.9 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 3 | Feb precipitation mm = 3 | Mar precipitation mm = 8 | Apr precipitation mm = 36 | May precipitation mm = 129 | Jun precipitation mm = 159 | Jul precipitation mm = 82 | Aug precipitation mm = 96 | Sep precipitation mm = 166 | Oct precipitation mm = 135 | Nov precipitation mm = 50 | Dec precipitation mm = 7 | year precipitation mm = 874 | unit precipitation days = 1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 1 | Feb precipitation days = 1 | Mar precipitation days = 1 | Apr precipitation days = 2 | May precipitation days = 8 | Jun precipitation days = 12 | Jul precipitation days = 11 | Aug precipitation days = 10 | Sep precipitation days = 12 | Oct precipitation days = 11 | Nov precipitation days = 4 | Dec precipitation days = 1 | year precipitation days = 72 | Jan sun = 239.0 | Feb sun = 231.2 | Mar sun = 265.0 | Apr sun = 241.4 | May sun = 226.8 | Jun sun = 195.0 | Jul sun = 194.3 | Aug sun = 224.9 | Sep sun = 196.1 | Oct sun = 206.8 | Nov sun = 211.2 | Dec sun = 228.3 | year sun = | source 1 = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/normals-old/WMO/1961-1990/RA-IV/NK/00045017.TXT |title = Station Name: OCOTAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |format = TXT |access-date = 9 September 2024}}

Administration

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Ocotal_Street.JPG"] ::

There are 29 neighbourhoods: José Santos Rodríguez, Sandino, Hermanos Zamora, Teodoro López, Monseñor Madrigal, José Santos Duarte, Danilo Ponce, Yelba María Antúnez, Anexo Yelba María Antunez, Noel Weelock, Enrique Lacayo Farfán, Anexo Laura Sofía, Roberto Gómez Montalvan, Laura Sofía Olivas Paz, Nicarao, Leonardo Matute, 26 de septiembre, Santa Ana, Carlos Manuel Jarquin, Ramón Augusto López, Nora Astorga, Cristo del Rosario, Nuevo Amanecer, María Auxiliadora, Dinamarca, Pueblos unidos (where the Colonia del Maestro y 8 de mayo zones have been built).

10 Municipal zones containing 22 Administrative areas ::data[format=table]

Zone 2Zone 4Zone 6Zone 8Zone 10
::

Sport

Ocotal has a well known soccer team known as Deportivo Ocotal

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Ocotal is twinned with: ::data[format=table] | | | | |---|---| ::

Gallery

File:Ocotal 1.jpg File:Ocotal Church.JPG File:Ocotal Street.JPG File:Ocotal Independence Day Celebrations.JPG File:Ocotal Independence Day Parade.jpg File:Ocotal Estadio.JPG File:Ocotal palillonas.JPG

Map

A map of Ocotal is being created by the OpenStreetMap project here

References

References

  1. [https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nicaragua/admin/ocotal/0545 Citypopulation.de] Population of Ocotal municipality
  3. "Wiesbaden's international city relations".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

municipalities-of-the-nueva-segovia-department1543-establishments-in-the-spanish-empirepopulated-places-established-in-1543