Nicaragua isn’t a well-known destination that many people consider. But recently, it started getting recognition and has become Central America’s must-visit destination. The beautiful country is receiving popularity by tourists all around the world. You are going to discover indigenous cultures, stunning landscapes, exotic wildlife, uncontrolled nature, etc. when you visit here. Now, let’s learn some exciting facts relate to this naturally beautiful country.
Nicaragua Facts
1. It has the largest lake in Central America
The tectonic origin freshwater lake is in Nicaragua, and it is called Lake Nicaragua. The Lake’s area is of 8,264 square km, making it the largest Lake in Central America and 19th largest lake by area, an interesting fact about Nicaragua. Also, the depth of the Lake is 26 m. San Juan River gets drained to the Caribbean Sea through the Lake Nicaragua. Even though it is a freshwater lake, you can still find tarpon, sawfish, and sharks in it. There are more than 400 volcanic islands in the Lake.
2. Nicaragua is one of the poverty-stricken countries
The poorest country in Central America is Haiti, but Nicaragua is the second-poorest country. The country has $10.5 billion total GDP, whereas the USA’s GDP is approximately $18.5 trillion. There are prominent impacts on individuals because of low productivity in Nicaragua. As for statistics, around 75% of people in the country manage life with an income of $2 per day. Due to the poor economy, people move to other places such as Panama or Costa Rica, to find work and to feed the families. A higher percentage of the total GDP of Nicaragua includes the money earned from abroad. The economy can be improved only by uplifting the commercial and agriculture industries of the country.
3. It is one of the best tourist destinations
Even though Nicaragua has not yet come to the levels of other travel destinations, it is striving to become one of the best destinations. The tourism sector of the country has witnessed a 10% increase every year, an interesting fact about Nicaragua. If you don’t know much about the tourist attractions in Nicaragua, there are a considerable amount of attractions to witness. Some of the attractions are scuba diving, Corn Islands, breathtaking beaches, wildlife reserves, and perfect spots for hiking.
For example, you are likely to find one of the natural wonders, Momotombo volcano, as the perfect spot for hiking. Nicaragua is the ideal spot for someone who loves to spend their time outdoors. Tourism has become one of the prominent income sources of the country. In 2010, one million visitors were accommodated by Nicaragua. Hence, the country’s long term plan is to uplift and enhance the tourism industry to support the economy.
4. Central America’s biggest country is Nicaragua
Nicaragua is Central America’s biggest country, with an area of 130,375 square km. The county’s northwest and south are boarded by Honduras and Costa Rica, respectively. The southwest is boarded by the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea boards the east.
5. Perfect spot for an enthusiast stargazer
Some people have a great interest in watching the stars. They like to spend time stargazing and deciphering constellations. If you love stargazing, you might visit Nicaragua many times. From 88 constellations, you can vividly see 86 of them when you visit here, a fun Nicaragua fact. The sky in Nicaragua changes from North to South poles when you travel across the country. You can also witness the wonderful views of the hemispheres as the country is a central location.
6. The Mosquito Coast in Nicaragua wasn’t named after mosquitos
The coast that carries the name Mosquito Coast wasn’t named after mosquitos. Instead, indigenous Miskito Amerindians were the reason for the name because they lived in the area. Mosquito Coast’s size varied as per the Miskitos Kingdom and Honduras and Nicaragua’s present parts. Even though in 1894 Mosquito Coast was fully incorporated into the country, in 1960, the International Court of Justice named a part of it for Honduras.
7. It will be a tough task to find streets in Nicaragua
If you are a traveler, you would know that certain countries are tough when it comes to finding streets. It is the same case with Nicaragua as it is not easy to find streets when you are traveling in this country, given that there are no official names. When a person looks for direction in this country, they’d be directed with landmarks, an interesting fact about Nicaragua. Of course, this wouldn’t be hard for locals, but for tourists, it is likely to be challenging.
8. America’s Female Head of State was firstly elected from Nicaragua
Violeta Chamorro, who was not only a politician but also was the country’s president in 1990. Her presidency period was from 25th of April 1990 to 10th of January 1997. She took pride in stopping the Contra War, and that was the last stage of the Nicaraguan Revolution. Along with this, she was famous for peace contribution to the county as the country faced violence and conflicts for years and years. So, Violeta Chamorro was America’s first female head of state who won the election on the 25th of February 1990.
9. It is one of the safest countries
One of the important factors travelers consider is safety, and that’s the best thing about Nicaragua. As per the Drugs and Crime reports studied by the United Nations Office in 2013, Nicaragua shows a lower rate of 11 homicides in a country with 100,000 populations. When comparing this statistic to neighbor country Honduras, it is 90.4 for 100,000 populations, so it is evident that Nicaragua is safe to travel.
10. It is a land filled with natural beauty
Another interesting fact about Nicaragua is that it is filled with natural attractions such as volcanic features, marine habitats, freshwater lakes, mangroves, cloud forests, tropical rainforests, and more. Nature lovers might consider this country as a paradise on earth. When you are here, you can witness different mammals like jaguarondi, Geoffroy’s spider monkey, armadillos, northern tamandua, three-toed sloth, and much more.
Conclusion
Nicaragua is a visit-worthy country for everyone who loves to travel around. The country can attract people around the world throughout the year. The country’s rich biodiversity and tropical climate are the main reasons to attract visitors. Even though the country is flourishing little by little, certain areas face poverty, unemployment, and many other problems. Just like Asians, Nicaraguans are closer to their families, so they live helping and spending time with their families. Nicaraguans kindness and hospitality will make the tourists stay a little longer.
I hope that this article on Nicaragua facts was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Country Facts Page!
