The largest country in Central America is Nicaragua. It is named after Nicarao, an American Indian chief who once ruled the region. The capital is Managua.
Roughly triangular in shape, Nicaragua covers an area of 50,893 square miles (131,812 square kilometers). It is bordered by Honduras on the north, the Caribbean Sea on the east, Costa Rica on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.
The Caribbean shore is a low, swampy region called the Mosquito Coast. From the coast the land rises gradually to mountains in the central part of the country. In the north is Mogotón Peak, the highest point in Nicaragua at 6,900 feet (2,103 meters). On the western side the mountains fall steeply to a lowland basin, or depression, containing the huge Lake Nicaragua and the smaller Lake Managua. Between the basin and the Pacific coast is a belt of volcanoes, some of which are still active. The San Juan River links Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean Sea and forms much of the southern boundary with Costa Rica. The Coco River forms most of the boundary with Honduras.
The climate of Nicaragua is tropical, with a wet season and a dry season. The eastern part of the country is cooler and wetter than the west. Earthquakes are frequent, and hurricanes are a danger. In 1998 Hurricane Mitch killed more than 1,800 Nicaraguans and destroyed several villages.
Nicaragua has thick tropical forests with trees such as cedar and mahogany. In the second half of the 20th century, however, the country lost about half of its forest cover as trees were cut down for timber and to make room for farming. The destruction of the forests led to huge declines in the country's wildlife, which includes pumas, jaguars, monkeys, anteaters, snakes, and tropical birds.
The majority of Nicaragua's people are mestizos, or of mixed European (mostly Spanish) and American Indian origin. Many of the remaining Indians live in the east, especially along the Caribbean coast. Whites and blacks together make up about a quarter of the population. Most of the people are Roman Catholics. Spanish is the official language, but many people also speak English.
Most of Nicaragua's population lives along the Pacific coast and in the area of Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. By far the largest city is Managua, on the southeastern shore of Lake Managua. Other important urban centers include León, Chinandega, Granada, and Masaya, all in the west.
Nicaragua prides itself on its long literary tradition. Among the country's best-known writers is Rubén Darío, considered by many to be one of the greatest Spanish-language poets. Nicaragua's folk traditions are expressed in arts and crafts, religious ceremonies, and country music (corridos).
Nicaragua is a poor country. About 40 percent of the workforce is employed in agriculture, forestry, or fishing. Coffee, seafood, beef, and sugar are among the leading exports. Other crops grown in Nicaragua include bananas, cotton, rice, corn (maize), beans, and sorghum.
Industry is a small part of Nicaragua's economy. Products include refined petroleum, footwear, soap, vegetable oils, cement, alcoholic beverages, and textiles. Among the country's rich mineral resources are gold, copper, and silver. Gold is an important export.
Indians have lived in what is now Nicaragua for thousands of years. The first European to visit the region was Christopher Columbus in 1502. The first European settlements, Granada and León, were established by the Spanish in the early 1520s. The Spanish conquest was a disaster for the Indians. Hundreds of thousands of them died from diseases carried by the Spanish. Most of the rest were sold into slavery in other Spanish colonies.
Nicaragua was a Spanish colony for nearly three centuries. In 1821 Nicaragua and other Spanish lands in Central America declared themselves independent. For a short time Nicaragua was part of the new Mexican Empire, and later it joined a union of Central American states. The union broke up in 1838, however, and Nicaragua became a separate republic.
After gaining independence Nicaragua was often disturbed by revolutions and conflicts between rival groups. At times between 1912 and 1933 the United States stationed Marines in the country to influence political affairs.
Many of Nicaragua's presidents ruled as dictators, backed by the army. The Somoza family took power in 1937 and ruled Nicaragua for 44 years, using their position to build a large fortune. In 1979 the last Somoza president, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, was overthrown by a rebel group, the Sandinistas. The group was named after César Augusto Sandino, a rebel leader who had been assassinated in 1934. The Sandinistas formed a new government and put many of the country's institutions under government control. In 1984 the Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega Saavedra was elected president. He established close relations with Cuba and other Communist countries.
The United States opposed the creation of a Communist state so close to its own border. It therefore supported the contras, a group that was fighting the Sandinistas. Nicaragua's economy worsened and the Sandinistas became increasingly unpopular. They were defeated in elections in 1990. The new government returned many economic activities to
private control. Tension between the government and the Sandinistas continued into the 21st century. Population (2000 estimate), 5,070,000.
