Uploaded on 2015-12-01 by HelimPicado

![South end of Estelí looking towards Las Brisas-Quiabuc Natural Reserve.][1] a. Provisioning services Estelí is a small city of 129,787 inhabitants. Commerce and agroindustry are the main activities. The city is surrounded by crops fields such as vegetables, corn, beans, coffee, and pasture for cattle breeding but mostly tobacco plantations. After the crop fields are surrounded by forested mountains of pines, and oaks. From the high mountains the Estelí River is born and then flows down crossing the city. ![Some of the tobacco fields that are common north of town.][2] b. Regulating services Estelí local climate is influenced by the altitude around 800 m above sea level; it is located in the dry corridor of Central America so we have a fresh and dry climate throughout most of the year. The surrounding crop fields and forested mountains of pines, and oaks, which play a role in regulating local climate, water run-off and carbon sequestration/storage. From the high mountains the Estelí River is born and then flows down crossing the city. ![Near Miraflor Nature Reserve, just outside of Estelí.][3] c. Habitat or Supporting services Within the city there some green areas for instance around the Estelí River, but also there are vegetation and tress in most of the back yards that provide different habitats for different species such as birds and small mammals. The crop fields around the city provide more habitats than the city but the main area are located in the mountains where forests provide the larger habitats. ![Tomabú hill with a height of 1,445 meters, it is covered with pine forests.][4] d. Cultural services ![Jalacate Sculptures just outside of town.][5] Estelí is home to one of the most successful and most popular soccer clubs in the country, the Real Estelí. It is also home to a professional baseball team, Estelí, which makes this two the most popular sports in the city. ![Rappelling down el Salto de la Estanzuela][6] The moderate climate, ever growing commerce activities, recreation options within the city and in the surrounding nature areas such as Estanzuela waterfall, Miraflor, Tomabu, Tisey natural reserves have contributed to increase tourism to the city. The award winning cigars have made Estelí one of the most important cigar-producing cities in the world, which has also contributed to increase tourism. ![Estanzuela waterfall) located in the Tisey-Estanzuela Natural Reserve just south of town.][7] [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14490129805644914.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14490130309871433.jpg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14490131066889972.jpg [4]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1449013161217633.jpg [5]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1449013376959398.jpg [6]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14490132545397025.jpg [7]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14490132805121671.jpg