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From Leon we cycled through the capital, Managua, to Masaya where we
found a volcano which has a paved road up to the crater. We could not
resist cycling up to the top. |
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| You can catch glimpses down into the crater when the
steam and smoke thins. The huge cliffs really give a sense of a vast hole
reaching deep down below the Earth’s surface. |
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| Legends tell of pre-Hispanic people throwing young women
into the crater to appease the goddess of fire and skeletons have been found
in nearby lava tunnels. The cross was erected by a Spanish priest in the
16th century as it was believed that Volcan Masaya was the gateway to hell. |
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| A group of parrots known as chocoyos have evolved to nest
inside the crater out of predators reach apparently unharmed by the noxious
gases. You can just make them out in the branches of this tree. |
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| Having been chased out at closing by the park security we
made a swift descent from the crater. |