Corinto is a town, with a population of 18,602 (2022 estimate),[4] on the northwest Pacific coast of Nicaragua in the province of Chinandega. The municipality was founded in 1863.

Corinto
Municipality and town
Corinto, Nicaragua
Corinto, Nicaragua
Corinto is located in Nicaragua
Corinto
Corinto
Location in Nicaragua
Coordinates: 12°29′N 87°11′W / 12.483°N 87.183°W / 12.483; -87.183
Country Nicaragua
DepartmentDepartment of Chinandega
Founded1858
Area
 • Municipality and town27.3 sq mi (70.7 km2)
Population
 (2022 estimate)[1]
 • Municipality and town18,602
 • Density680/sq mi (260/km2)
 • Urban
18,602
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central Time)
Isla El Cardon Lighthouse Edit this at Wikidata
Coordinates12°28′32.8″N 87°11′25.6″W / 12.475778°N 87.190444°W / 12.475778; -87.190444
Constructed1876
Foundationconcrete base
Constructionconcrete tower
Height13 metres (43 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and light atop a 1-storey hexagonal prism basement
Markingswhite tower
Power sourcesolar power Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorAquatic Transport Directorate [2][3]
Focal height27 metres (89 ft)
Range10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi)
CharacteristicL Fl W 10s.

History

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Early years

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The town of Corinto was founded in 1849. It first came into prominence as a port in 1863, due to its spacious and sheltered harbour. It superseded El Realejo, which was from 1550 to 1850 the principal seaport of Nicaragua but became partly filled with sandbanks.[5]

British occupation

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When Nicaragua refused to pay Britain an indemnity for the annexation of the Mosquito Reserve, the British responded by occupying the Nicaraguan Pacific port of Corinto on 27 April 1895.[6] Eventually the British left after being paid indemnities by the Nicaraguan government.[7][8]

United States intervention

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Post card sent on May 13, 1907 from Corinto, Nicaragua to the United States.

On May 2, 1896, U.S. Marines landed in Corinto to protect American interests during political unrest.

In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed the African-American writer James Weldon Johnson U.S. Consul to Corinto.

On January 25, 1922, the USS Galveston landed a detachment of U.S. Marines at Corinto, to reinforce the Managua legation guard during a period of political tension.

While supporting the Contra war against the Sandinista government in the 1980s, U.S. Forces mined the Port of Corinto. On October 10, 1983, an attack destroyed 3.2 million US gallons (12,000 m3) of fuel. It is believed that this attack was directed by the CIA and carried out by U.S. Navy Seals.[9][10][11][12][13]

Economy

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Corinto was a railroad terminus and is Nicaragua's largest and only Pacific port for the import and export of goods. It has a container terminal and is able to manage a wide variety of cargo: liquid, bulk, containers, cars, etc.

International relations

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Twin towns – Sister cities

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Corinto is twinned with:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Corinto municipality - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  2. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Nicaragua". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  3. ^ List of Lights, Pub. 111: The West Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. and Hawaii), Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Islands of the North and South Pacific Oceans (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2016.
  4. ^ "Nicaragua: Departments, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  5. ^   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Corinto". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 154.
  6. ^ "The Spokesman-Review". 28 April 1895.
  7. ^ Healy, David (September 2011). US Expansionism: The Imperialist Urge in the 1890s. University of Wisconsin Pres. ISBN 9780299058531.
  8. ^ The Anglo-Venezuelan Boundary Dispute: A Victory for Whom?. Lulu.com. 18 March 2017. ISBN 9781365833847.
  9. ^ Truver, SC. "Mines and Underwater IEDs in U.S. Ports and Waterways..." (PDF). p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  10. ^ "International Court of Justice, CASE CONCERNING THE MILITARY AND PARAMILITARY ACTIVITIES IN AND AGAINST NICARAGUA (NICARAGUA v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)". Archived from the original on 2007-03-08.
  11. ^ "The New York Times, OCT. 10 ASSAULT ON NICARAGUANS IS LAID TO C.I.A." April 18, 1984. Retrieved 2006-11-10.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "NBC Evening News for Tuesday, Oct 11, 1983". Retrieved 2006-11-10.
  13. ^ "Photograph showing the burning oil tanks, Un comando de la CIA y fuerzas especiales SEAL bombardean refineria en Corinto, Nicaragua, 1983". 7 April 2004.
  14. ^ Frohmader, Andrea. "Bremen - Referat 32 Städtepartnerschaften / Internationale Beziehungen" [Bremen - Unit 32 Twinning / International Relations]. Das Rathaus Bremen Senatskanzlei [Bremen City Hall - Senate Chancellery] (in German). Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
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