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Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the
largest but most sparsely populated country in Central
America. Bordered on the north by Honduras, east by the
Caribbean, south by Costa Rica, and West by the Pacific,
Nicaragua is divided into three distinct geographic regions:
the Pacific lowlands, the north-central mountains and the
Caribbean lowlands (most commonly referred to as the
Mosquito Coast). The capital, and largest city, is Managua.
Nicaragua, which is roughly the size of New York, is host to
the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de
Nicaragua. To date, 17% of the country is dedicated national
park.
The country of Nicaragua hosts a large variety of flora and
fauna. Lago de Nicaragua, for example, in addition to a
large number of fish, it plays hosts to the world’s only
freshwater sharks. Other common animals to Nicaragua are
howler monkeys, jaguars, pumas, slots, spider monkeys,
ocelots, the quetzal, and deer, to name a few.
Agriculture employs about 45% of the workforce and accounts
for about 1/4th of the gross national product. Chief
commercial crops include: coffee, cotton, sugarcane. These,
along with meat, timber, gold and seafood are among the most
common exports of Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is a republic. Executive power is held by the
president, who is popularly elected for a five-year term.
Members of the unicameral legislature are also elected for
five years.
Brief History:
The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish
colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence
from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an
independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean
Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually
ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent
opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption
spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived
civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to
power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El
Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra
guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in
1990, 1996, and again in 2001 saw the Sandinistas defeated.
The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s,
but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. In 2004, the
country received an enormous show of support from the
international community when the IMF and World Bank forgave
$4.5 billion of Nicaragua’s debt.
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The southern coastal hills of Nicaragua host a variety of
activities, making it a trip for everyone. Here, offshore
breezes blow more than 300 days a year, conditions are
perfect for fishing, tropical fauna is abundant, and the
surf is amazing.
Aside from the beach life, the region plays host to many
other activities/sites. Whether you are simply planning on
taking a short vacation, or making La Jolla de Guasacate
your permanent home, check out the surrounding areas:
GRANADA
Historic whitewashed city; offers a variety of restaurants,
horse carriage rides, etc.
MASAYA
Traditional market town named after Volcan Masaya; great
deals depending on bargaining ability; hammocks, clothing,
ceramics, wood crafts, leather, rum, etc.
CANOPY TOURS
Experience views of Nicaragua from it’s treetops, on cables
10-100 feet high.
LAGUNA DE APOYO
Beautiful lookout over a freshwater crater lake.
VOLCANOES
Nicaragua has several volcanoes that offer short tours.
Nicaragua Information Links
• Nicaragua History - outline form -
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/nitoc.html
• Lonely Planet on the web -
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/central_america/nicaragua
• BUBL Link Internet Resources - all about Nicaragua -
http://bubl.ac.uk/link/n/nicaragua.htm
• The Nicaragua Network - online article database -
www.nicanet.org/archive.php
• Nicaragua Investments -
www.intur.gob.ni
• Nicaragua History and Government -
www.travel-guide.com/data/nic/nic580.asp
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