Granada
The Department (read "State") of Granada is located in the Pacific region of Nicaragua, next to the most western part of Lake Nicarauga. The city of Granada, which is the capital city of the Department of Granada, was founded December 8th, 1524, and is considered the oldest city in the Americas. Its name is in honer of the Spanish city of Granada, birthplace of its founder, Francisco Hernadez de Cordoba.
During colonial times, Granada flourshed as a port and commercial center, which made it the target of repeated attempts of assault and sackings. Traveling from the Atlantic up the San Juan River and crossing Lake Nicaragua, the English sacked the city on three occasions. After independece, a rivalry developed between conservative Granada and the more liberal northern city of Leon for political control of the country. Both cities have been the capital of Nicaragua at one time or other, depending on the party in power. In the end, this periodic movement of the seat of government was stopped by the formation of the new capital city of Managua, geographically situated between the two rivals.
Granada conserves a great deal of the architectural splendor of its colonial past. Churches and many homes more than 300 years old are beautifully preserved, the ongoing efforts at mainenance and restoration are supported by a vibrant and growing tourist industry.
Visible from anywhere in Granada is the Mombacho Volcano. Now dormant, and home to one of the world's most diverse ecosystems, Mombacho is one of the main attractions for tourists in the area. The Isletas of Granada, a group of 365 islands just offshore from the City, were formed by a pre-historic eruption of Mombacho. Their paradisical landscapes and 3000 year old archeological sites hold visitors captivate. Lamentably the raiding of archaeological sites is one of the main problems faced by the area today.
| Capital | Granada |
| Location | Southern Nicaragua |
| Bordering Departments |
North - Managua, Boaco South - Rivas East - Lago De Nicaragua West - Masaya, Carazo |
| Population | 155,683 |
| Area km2 | 929 |
| Cities | Granada, Diria, Diriomo, Nandaime, Isla Zapatera Isletas de Granada |
