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| Nicaragua |
Lake Managua
Pacific Ocean
Caribbean
El Bluff
Matagalpa
Puerto Sandino
Local date and time Population 5,675,356 (July 2007) Capital Managua Area 129,494 km languages Spanish 97.5%, Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995) English and indigenous languages on the Atlantic coast Currency Cordoba Time GMT -6 hours. Budget US$ 20 to 25 per day. Electricity 110 volts US plugs. Climate Tropical in the lowlands, cooler in the highlands. Police Dial 118. Safety Follow this link. |
Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America with an area of 129,494 square kilometres. The name comes from the indigenous tribe "Nicarao" who inhabited the shores of Lake Nicaragua at the time when the Spanish first arrived. The Spanish then added the word "agua" which means water, due to the large number of lakes and lagoons they saw in the area. Nicaragua has a population of 5,675,356 people, one fifth of which lives in the capital city Managua. The population is divided into four main ethnic groups. 69% are mestizos, or mixed race, 17% are white, 9% are black and 5% are Amerindians, or direct descendants of the indigenous people. 90% in the population speaks Spanish. English and Creole English is spoken in areas along the Caribbean coast and in some areas the native indigenous languages are still spoken. Nicaragua is the least densely populated country in Central America, and also one of the safest. The main source of economy in Nicaragua is agriculture, which accounts for 60% of its exports. This brings in US$300 million a year. US$655 million a year is sent in from Nicaraguans living abroad. The second largest industry in Nicaragua is tourism which has increased rapidly in the last few years. The most popular place for tourists to visit is Granada, according to INTUR (The Ministry of tourism in Nicaragua). Other popular places are Leon, Ometepe, San Juan del Sur and the Corn Islands. Eco-tourism is also on the increase with 20% of the land in Nicaragua designated a protected area. Hiking, fishing, surfing and diving are just some of the activities Nicaragua has to offer. |
