Estelí Department

Esteli is an administrative division and department in northern Nicaragua. The city of Estelí serves as the capital of the department. Situated on the Pan American Highway, it forms the gateway to the Las Segovia region and northern Honduras. The valleys in the department form an important center of tobacco cultivation, and the associated cigar industry.

History

Several carved-stone figures from pre-historic human habitation has been found in the region. The city of Esteli developed as a Spanish colonial settlement.

Geography

Esteli is one of the 15 departments of Nicaragua, located in the norther part of the country. It is spread over an area of . Its capital, Esteli, is located on the Pan American Highway. It is situated at an altitude of , in a valley in the central highlands of Nicaragua, along the Esteli river. It lies approximately from the capital Managua and functions as the gateway to the Las Segovia region, which includes the departments of Nueva Segovia and Madriz, and parts of northern Honduras.