(Source: )
Location: Nicaragua is borded
North by Honduras, South by Costa Rica, East by the Atlantic
Ocean and West by the Pacific Ocean.
Population: About 5'000.000
inhabitants.
Ethnic groups: Mestizo: 69%,
European Decent 17%, African Decent 9%, Amerindian 5%.
 Area:
130.668 Km2. Nicaragua is the largest Central American country.
Water covered surfaces: 9.240
Km2 of the Nicaraguan land are covered by fresh water lakes
and crateric lagoons. 8.000 Km2 of this area belong to the
Nicaragua Lake and 1.000 Km2 to the Managua Lake.
Language: Spanish is the official
language. English is widely spoken on the Caribbean as well
as Miskito and other Amerindian languages.
Electricity: 110 Volts, 60
Hz.
Area Code: After dialing your
local international access number dial 505, then the local
phone number.
Religion: Catholic 95%, other
5%.
Climate: The zone between the
Nicaragua and Managua lakes and the Pacific ocean is dry and
relatively little precipitation. Temperatures are in a range
between 27ºC and 32ºC (81ºF y 90ºF) along
the rainy season (locally call "invierno") and between
30ºC and 35ºC (86ºF and 95ºF) during the
dry season (called "verano"). Verano season runs
approximately from November to April and Invierno from May
to October.
In the center, the mountain elevations cause
a cooler climate which becomes more humid eastwards. From
the center towards the Caribbean coast the climate is humid,
tropical and high in precipitations which is prefect for a
flourishing tropical rainforest.
Time: Nicaragua shares the
American Central time (6h behind GMT). There is not daylight-saving
time in Nicaragua.
Currency: Córdoba C$1=100
Centavos = 10 Reales.. ±C$14.75 = 1US$ (March 2003).
Sometimes people calls currency Peso instead of Córdobas.
Taxes and Tips: The IGV (Value
Added Tax) is the only tax that tourists must pay in Nicaragua
which is 15%. Taxi drivers do not get tips beside the normal
charge. Restaurant tips are between 10% and 15%. US$0.50 per
moved piece of luggage is fine in hotels.
National Flower: Sacuanjoche
(plumeria rubia)
National Bird: Guardabarranco
(momotus momota)
National Tree:: El Madroño
(Calycophyllum Candidissimum)
Max Altitude: Dipilto-Jalapa
ridge, 2107 m
Min Altitude: Sea level
Volcanoes
Active
Telica (1061m), San Cristobal (1745m), Cerro Negro (675m),
Momotombo (1258m), Masaya (635m), Concepción (1610m)
Other important extint volcanoes
Mombacho (1345m), Madera (1394m) , Cosigüína (847m). |
