OMETEPE ISLAND

Spanish Isla De Ometepe, also called Alta Gracia, island in southwestern Nicaragua, the largest island in Lake Nicaragua. Ometepe actually consists of two islands joined by a narrow isthmus 2 miles (3 km) in length. Their combined area is about 150 square miles (400 square km). The larger, northern one is 12 miles (19 km) from east to west and 10 miles (16 km) from north to south; from it the cone of active Concepcin Volcano rises to 5,282 feet (1,610 m). The smaller, southern island is almost circular, with a 7-mile (11-kilometre) diameter. The perfect cone of Madera Volcano on the southern island attains an elevation of 4,573 feet (1,394 m). Ometepe lies 5 miles (8 km) offshore and approximately 8 miles (13 km) east-northeast of the town of Rivas. The island's land is fertile and largely forested; coffee and tobacco are the principal products. Alta Gracia and Moyogalpa are the island's main towns. Pop. (1978 est.) mun., 9,378.