Bird Checklist of Ometepe Island, Nicaragua

Abstract

With a total landmass of 276 km2 , Ometepe is the world’s largest island within a fresh-water lake—Lake Nicaragua, also known as Lake Cocibolca—the same lake that the Spanish conquerors called a “fresh water sea” because of its sheer size. Ometepe, which means “two hills” in the native “náhuatl” language, is aptly named since the island is comprised of two volcanoes separated by a narrow strip of land. The largest, Concepción, an active volcano towering 1,610 m above sea level, is located in the northern half of the island. The smaller, inactive Maderas volcano, with a maximum height of 1,394 m, is located in the island’s southern half. Ometepe’s human population of 37,000 inhabitants, collectively referred to as “ometepinos,” constitutes a blend of different tribes and cultures.

Citation

Morales, Salvadoa; Osorno, Diego; Arendt, Wayne J.; Hernández, Sandra. 2008. Bird Checklist of Ometepe Island, Nicaragua. 40 pp.