"The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes"
Nicaragua is known for being "the land of lakes and volcanoes" thanks to the large number of volcanoes that run across the pacific side of the country all the way down from north to south. Nicaragua also has two major lakes: Lago de Nicaragua and Lago de Managua. The Lake of Nicaragua, also known as 'Cocibolca', is one of the biggest lakes in Latin America and the only lake in the world in which you may find fresh-water sharks.
Nicaragua is the biggest country in Central America, with its northern neighbors being Honduras and El Salvador, and its southern neighbor Costa Rica. The country is marked by an eventful history of political instability, war and revolution. The Somoza dictatorship at the beginning of the 20th century, the Sandinista revolution and the Contra-War backed by the US, are some of the most important events which have played their part in creating the current (rather negative) image of the country.
Although this reputation still hangs as a shadow over the country, Nicaragua is slowly on its way to becoming one of the safest and most appealing countries of Central America. Nicaragua doesn't dispose of the same attractive features as some of its neighboring countries. However, it has a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty and authenticity: the exciting capital, Managua, the colonial towns of León and Granada, the Corn Islands close to the Caribbean Coast and the magnificent hill country with small towns such as Matagalpa, Estelí or Jinotepe situated in the middle of the coffee plantations. You will be amazed over and over again by the depth of this country's natural and cultural beauty.
However, there is also a downside. Nicaragua is the second poorest nation of Latin America, after Haiti. According to the Human Development Index of the UN, which ranks nations in terms of life expectancy, education and income, Nicaragua ranks 129th out of 187 countries with a score of 0.589, the lowest score in Central America. The average national income per person is at $2.43 a day. 15.8% of the population lives beneath the poverty line, 11.2% of the population lives in conditions of extreme poverty.
However, there is also a downside. Nicaragua is the second poorest nation of Latin America, after Haiti. According to the Human Development Index of the UN, which ranks nations in terms of life expectancy, education and income, Nicaragua ranks 129th out of 187 countries with a score of 0.589, the lowest score in Central America. The average national income per person is at $2.43 a day. 15.8% of the population lives beneath the poverty line, 11.2% of the population lives in conditions of extreme poverty.
