Ancient footprints of Acahualinca (Managua, Nicaragua)

Ancient footprints of Acahualinca

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Description

With the barely pronounceable Huellas de Acahualinca is referred to the ancient footprints left thousands of years ago at the borders of Lake Managua. Workers found a track of footprints by accident in 1874. Later studies proved that these footprints are 6000 years old, which makes them the oldest human footprints on the American continent.

These tracks are left behind by a group of around 10 people – men, women, and children. Some thought these people were fleeing from an erupting volcano close by, but a governmental study has rejected this idea. The people were not running and instead probably on their way to the lake to collect food and water.

Volcanic activity is the reason behind the conservation of the prints though. The original prints were left in a layer of volcanic mud. When a volcano nearby erupted – researchers are not sure which one – a layer of volcanic ash rained down on the footprints and perfectly conserved them.

Only part of the tracks has been found, the other parts probably being covered by volcanic material. In 1978, Nicaraguan researcher Jorge Espinoza excavated an area close to where the footprints ended to see if they would find more. At a depth of 4 meters they indeed found more prints, and the track is believed to continue even further.

At the Huellas (track in Spanish) de Acahualinca (Nahuatl word with several meanings) a small museum is set up. Besides observing the footprints you can also see some artifacts found here as well as in other parts of Nicaragua. Pre-Columbian tools, a scull from León Viejo, and conserved mammoth footprints form part of the collection. Huellas de Acahualinca is a small but very interesting site.

Practical Information

The entrance fee is U$2 for foreigners and C$12 for locals. During the week it is open from 8AM to 5PM, and on Saturday and Sunday from 9AM to 4PM.

To get there in taxi, you can simply try to pronounce the words ‘Huellas de Acahualinca’ and the taxi driver will have no problem getting there. From the Metro Centro shopping mall you should expect to pay around C$40-50 (convert). To get there in your own car, go from the Plaza Inter shopping mall towards the lake (pass the rotary and go straight). At the third traffic lights take a left (you will see the TELCOR building on the corner). Now follow the road for about 2 kilometer, and you will enter some sort of neighborhood. From here, you are only 5 minutes away from Huellas de Acahualinca. Everybody here knows where they are, so just ask around and you will easily find your way through this maze.

Comments

Edgar (May 6, 2009)
Nicaragua es un paiz de muchas riquezas naturales, intelectuales, materiales, etc que desgraciadamente han sido robadas de los Nicaraguenses por los historicos gobiernos ladrones desde los Somozas asta el presente, que desgracia, como somos humillados y como se burlan de nosotros los nicas, los gobiernos nos han matado, destruido y separado nuestras familias y nos roban la oportunidad a la prosperidad para salir de la pobreza que es lo unico que nos proporcionan los gobiernos sin verguenzas ladrones que no tienen perdon de Dios, pero con quien pagaran todos sus abusos algun dia.

hazel (Apr 25, 2009)
no hablen poca de paisas se estan muriendo de hambre por los ba;asos que voraron por daniel

Alioska del Socorro Mercado Roque (Mar 4, 2009)
Bueno pienso que Nicaregua es un pais rico en cultura y tradiciones y que dbmos cuidar d ellos y seguir con nuestras tradiciones

Casimiro Santamaría Rosas (Sep 8, 2008)
Desde Panamá, no soy nicaragüense pero hé tenido la bonita oportunidad de conocer este precioso país, del cual me hé llevado una grata impresión, por los su inigualable geografía, su gente ilustres, patriotas y heróicas que en la historia han marcado huellas inborrables por mencionar a; Rubén Darío, Cardenal Miguel Obando Ibravo, Augusto César Sandino entre otros, espero pronto regresar para apreciar más de sus encantos naturales que son un orgullo y un regalo de Dios para nuestra centroamérica.

DOMINGA DAVILA (Sep 4, 2008)
meparesio interesante la historia, ya quemeiso volar al pasado pues esto solo lovi en el colegio, meiso retroseder en el tiempo. gracias por recordarme mi historia y mis origen de mis antepasados, vole en el tiempo recordando y inmaginandome como era la vida en aquellos tiempos del pasado
soy granadina. de nicaragua logicamente, megusto nuestra historia

alejandra leiva (Aug 30, 2008)
pienso que es cierto todo lo que dicen aka pero no solo depende de las autoridades mantener bella nuestra tierra sino tambien de nosotros xke la vivimos ensuciando botando las bolsas de agua elada y jocote o mango en las cayes, tirando la basura de sus casa en cauces...esa tarea nos pertenece a todos y tambien tenemos ke tener la costumbre del reciclaje y no ser tan desaseados y mas higienicos

Xochilt (Aug 22, 2008)
Es muy interesante el poder conocer nuestra cultura, ya que algunas personas inclusive muy cercanas a éstas no la conocen. Deberíamos crear en nuestros hijos la costumbre de interesarnos por las cosas buenas que tenemos.

HUMBERTO TORRES (Aug 1, 2008)
Me parecio muy interesante ya que no sabia la historia y me di cuenta que nicaragua es muy bella y los animo que descubran mas de ella

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Details

Region
Managua

Category
Attractions

Type
Trips and Visits

Difficulty

Contact Information

Huellas de Acahualinca
Tel. (505) 2266 5774

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