The Somoto Grand Canyon (Nicaragua)—a Volcanic Geoheritage Site One Decade After Discovery: from Field Geological Mapping to the Promotion of a Geopark

Abstract

After its ‘discovery’ during field geological mapping by geologists of the Czech Geological Survey in 2004, the gorge of the Coco River in NW Nicaragua, now known as the Somoto Grand Canyon, has been turned into one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Nicaragua. The canyon is developed in acid ignimbrites of Miocene age and is 3.5 km long and located between 13 and 14° N and 86–87° W, 12 km W of the town of Somoto. The gorge, which reaches a width of 4–10 m in its narrowest parts and a depth of up to 190 m, uncovers a range of unique pseudokarst features, such as giant erosion potholes and rock and sandy bars alternating with deep lakes. The Somoto Grand Canyon quickly became known to the public, and in 2006, it was declared a National Monument by law, and in 2007, a picture of the canyon appeared on the 50 cordobas banknote. The Somoto Grand Canyon is now considered as a famous object of geoheritage, belonging to one of the most famous sites in Nicaragua and there are aspirations that it could be included in the UNESCO Global Geopark Network, as the main geoheritage site of the planned Rio Coco Geopark.