Chiltepe Peninsula Natural Reserve
Encyclopedia
Chiltepe Peninsula Natural Reserve (Spanish:
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...

 Reserva Natural Península de Chiltepe) is a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...

 in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...

. It is one of the 78 reserves which are officially under protection in the country.

Located on the South shore of Lake Managua
Lake Managua
Lake Managua is a lake in Nicaragua. The Spanish name is Lago de Managua or Lago Xolotlán. At 1,042 km², it is approximately long and wide. Similarly to the name of Lake Nicaragua, its name was coined by the Spanish conquerors from "Mangue" and agua...

, it is 15 kilometers Northwest of Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...

, the capital, and consequently a popular destination for visitors from the city.

The peninsula was formed by Apoyeque stratovolcano, one of whose domes is Chiltepe volcano (Volcán Chiltepe).

Local fauna includes coyotes, deer, raccoons, rabbits and other small mammals, as well as iguanas and lizards, which have been disappearing under pressure from hunting. At its coasts live ducks, herons, cormorants, and such birds as sargentillos (Agelaius), cowbirds (Molothrus Tangavius), Clariona (Cassidix mexicanus), and zanatillo (Cassidis nicaraguensis). The latter species is endemic to the coasts of lakes in Nicaragua.

Among the threats affecting the conservation of the protected area are frequent forest fires and expansion of agricultural areas at the expense of the nature neserve.
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