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the Degree Confluence Project
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Nicaragua

2.6 km (1.6 miles) NE of Palo Grande, Chinandega, Nicaragua
Approx. altitude: 20 m (65 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 13°S 93°E

Accuracy: 3 m (9 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View East from 13N 87W #3: View South from 13N 87W #4: View West from 13N 87W #5: Looking North at 13N 87W located 5m away by sapling centre picture #6: GPS screen 13N 87W #7: Luc English standing at 13N 87W

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  13°N 87°W  

#1: View North from 13N 87W

(visited by Luc English)

27-Nov-2008 -- I left Leon at 04:45 in order to knock this confluence off and be back for elevenses (morning tea). Good sealed roads brought me within 11km of 13N 87W, and a good dirt track to the community of Las Mesas to within 5km. I was directed onto a track leading north via someone’s garden; their neighbour insisted that it was an acceptable route for a Landcruiser. A scenic but locally rocky dirt track took me through some hillocky country to the community of Los Tablones. Los Tablones is situated on the edge of the Rio Negro floodplain and the track that I had identified on satellite images as passing within 100m of 13N 87W runs along the edge of the floodplain, in many places over thick muddy black alluvial soil. Outside a farm, some 1,500m from 13N 87W, I was forced to leave the vehicle and walk as the track had deteriorated into thick mud, and 1,300m from the confluence into a pool over 1m deep. The frequent passage of cattle probably does not help the state of the track, and I was told that the pool remains wet throughout the dry season so vehicle access would be tricky at any time of the year. A pleasant walk along the track brought me 50m south of 13N 87W. I then just had to hack my way through a thicket to the confluence.

I officially logged the confluence visit at 07:40 on the 27th November 2008. Confluence 13N 87W is situated on the edge of the Rio Negro floodplain at an altitude of approximately 26m. It is an overgrown thicket of spikey undergrowth and low trees, growing on an organic-rich black muddy alluvial soil. A north-south fenceline runs past a couple of metres to the west of the confluence. The local area is dominated by cattle farming, with subordinate maize cultivation also observed.

On the return journey, about three kilometres from 13N 87W, I was waved down by an army patrol, curious as to what I was doing. The Rio Negro, only 1.5km north of 13N 87W is the border with Honduras and so this area is routinely patrolled. The officer in charge seemed very interested, if somewhat bewildered by the concept of the Confluence Project. However once he had established that I am a British national he seemed satisfied that he had an explanation for my presence in the area. I arrived back in Leon at 10:30.


 All pictures
#1: View North from 13N 87W
#2: View East from 13N 87W
#3: View South from 13N 87W
#4: View West from 13N 87W
#5: Looking North at 13N 87W located 5m away by sapling centre picture
#6: GPS screen 13N 87W
#7: Luc English standing at 13N 87W
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
About 1 km from the Río Negro, which is defining the border to Honduras.