51 Facts About Nicaragua

Nicaragua Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America, officially known as the Republic of Nicaragua.

Nicaragua, located between the Pacific and Caribbean seas, is a Central American country known for its dramatic landscape of lakes, volcanoes, and beaches.

The vast Lake Managua and the iconic stratovolcano Momotombo are located north of Managua.

Granada, to the south, is known for its Spanish colonial architecture and an archipelago of navigable islets teeming with tropical bird life.

Managua is the country's capital and largest city.

Its official language is Spanish, and its regional languages include English, Miskito, Rama, and Sumo.

Cordoba is the official currency (NIO).

Its two land bordering countries are Honduras and Costa Rica.

Nicaragua shares maritime borders with Colombia and El Salvador.

Nicaragua is divided into three distinct geographical regions: the Atlantic Lowlands, the North-Central Highlands, and the Pacific Lowlands, the latter of which is the most populous.

Lake Nicaragua is Central America's largest lake, supplying water to much of Nicaragua and serving as the country's main tourist attraction. This lake is massive, and it contains the world's largest lake island.

The famous Dual Volcano in Nicaragua is the only one in the world that is fed by two separate magma flows. This allows it to erupt from two different types of magma channels.

Lake Nicaragua contains approximately 430 volcanic islands. Geothermal energy is generated by the intense steam from deep within Nicaragua's volcanoes.

The country is vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic activity, and it is especially vulnerable to hurricanes.

Nicaragua has designated 70 areas as protected water and land areas in order to protect endangered species. These include various monkey species, boa constrictors, jaguars, sloths, green turtles, and sea turtles.

Nicaragua's rainy season lasts from June to October, and its dry season lasts from December to May. November is usually the busiest month for visitors.

Nicaragua's eastern, or "Mosquito coast," receives the most rainfall in the country.

Almost all of the tiny islands off the coast of Granada, Nicaragua, are for sale. The majority of the prices are in the millions of dollars.

The country's higher elevations have slightly cooler weather than the tropical climates.

The earliest people are thought to be related to Mexico's Aztec and Mayan peoples. The Nicarao were one of the most numerous early native groups.

When the colonial Spanish arrived in the 1500s under de Cordoba, they named the country after these Nicarao Indians as well as the vast amounts of water it possessed (agua is the Spanish word for water).

Nicaragua's Ruins of Leon Viejo are the oldest city in Central America. It dates back over 1500 years and is still in use today. It was established by early Spanish settlers.

In the early 1800s, Britain arrived on the Caribbean coast from Jamaica and other islands and settled on the eastern coast, but gradually ceded control to Nicaragua over the following decades.

Nicaragua gained independence from Spain following the successful Mexican Revolution on September 15, 1821. Nicaragua celebrates its national independence day on September 15.

Almost three-quarters of Nicaraguans live on less than $2 per day, and nearly half are impoverished.

You must pay a $10 entry fee in US dollars or Córdobas (cash only). When you go shopping, be prepared to pay a 15% sales tax on all of your purchases.

The country has the lowest crime rate of any Central American country and is regarded as the safest place to visit.

Nicaragua's economy is primarily based on agriculture, tourism, mining, and manufacturing.

Nicaragua has a population of about six million people, nearly one million of whom live in Managua, the country's capital city. It is also the third largest city in the country, after Granada and Leon.

Managua is located on a geological fault line, which seismologists predict will result in a severe earthquake every 50 years or less.

An earthquake in 1972 killed over 19,120 Managuans and destroyed 90% of the city's downtown area.

The city was further ruined by the eleven-year-long Contra war in the 1980s. Following the 1990 presidential election, reconstruction began in earnest.

Fiveth category Hurricane Mitch hit in 1998, killing over 3,000 people and displacing over two million others.

Because Leon and Granada couldn't agree on which of their cities should be the country's capital, Managua took over as capital in 1858. Managua, a neutral country, was chosen instead.

Managua International Airport serves the city. There are three other airports in the country.

Axis are widely available, but choose one with red licence plates and legible numbers.

Managua has international sister cities in Los Angeles and Miami.

Nicaraguans call themselves Nicas.

Nicaragua celebrates religious freedom by not having a national religion; the country is secular. However, Roman Catholicism is practised by 85 percent of the population.

Nicaraguan culture is influenced by its Spanish, British, African, and Caribbean ancestors.

Despite being the largest country in Central America, Nicaragua has the lowest population density.

Nicaraguans are relatively young: 36% of the population is under the age of 14. Their average age is twenty-one.

Nicaragua's national dish is "Gallo pinto" (spotted rooster), a combination of white rice and small cooked red beans that is commonly eaten for breakfast.

Corn is the Nicaraguan’s staple food. Nacatamales are corn flour dumplings filled with veggies and cooked wrapped inside plantain leaves. Corn is also used to make many different traditional drinks.

Nicaragua is the birthplace of Ruben Dario, a notable poet who was extremely influential in the 1900s Latin America poetry community and is world renown.

Bianca Jagger, Rolling Stone singer Mick Jagger’s ex-wife, is a Nicaraguan native who is an environmental and social activist and represents Amnesty International.

Nicaragua is famous for folk dances, especially its “Palo de Mayo”. Music combines guitar and wooden marimba or flutes and drums. Dancing is a part of all holidays.

Lake Nicaragua is home to the only freshwater sharks in the world, the bull sharks. They swim up the Rip San Juan from the Atlantic Ocean and adapt to life in fresh water once they reach the lake. None have been spotted in years, and they are now extremely rare in the lake.

In its cloud forest, the Bosawas Biosphere Reserves protects 12 different types of venomous snakes.

Baseball is the national sport, and there are numerous professional baseball leagues. They both enjoy playing and watching baseball. Soccer (football) is ranked second.

Nicaragua is roughly the same size as the state of New York.