León, NI, Nicaragua

León, NI, Nicaragua

León, NI Nicaragua

León is the second-largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua, and the capital and largest city of the León Department. Founded by the Spanish as Santiago de los Caballeros de León, the municipality had an estimated population of 206,264 in 2016. Located along the Chiquito River, about 90 km (56 miles) northwest of Managua and 18 km (11 miles) east of the Pacific coast, León has long been the country’s political and intellectual center. Its National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN), founded in 1813, is the second-oldest university in Central America. León is also a key industrial, agricultural, and commercial hub, exporting products such as sugarcane, cattle, peanuts, plantains, and sorghum. The city has been home to many of Nicaragua’s most important poets, including Rubén Darío, Alfonso Cortés, and Salomón de la Selva.
Recommended airport
Managua Intl (MGA)
Nearby destinations
  • Chinandega a 33.52 km
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