Nicaragua

History

It gained full independence in 1838 from the British. Britain, however, remained in control of the country’s Caribbean coast, which it surrendered in 1860.

Food/ culture

Culture is greatly influenced by Spanish culture.

The major crops grown in the country are beans, sorghum, rice, cassava, plantains, fruits, vegetables and corn. The common dishes include corn, beans, deep-fried plantains, rice, cabbage and yucca.

Wildlife

Common wildlife animals are puma, deer, margays, peccaries, ocelots, jaguars, reptiles and monkeys.

Annual events/ celebrations/ festivals

The common events held in the country are Nicaragua’s Independence Day, Dia de Los Muertos, International Poetry Festival, Holy Week and La Purisima and La Griteria.

Things to see

Masaya Volcano is in Masaya national park and is the largest national park in the country.

Islets of Grenada in Lake Nicaragua are a tourist attraction site.

Mombacho is a 1,344 m high stratovolcano Nicaragua.

Other must visit sites are Cerro Negro, Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve, Lake Managua and Maderas.

Interesting facts

It is the second poorest country in the Americas after Haiti.

It has the largest lake in Central America.

It is the largest country in Central America.

It had the first female head of state.

Borders

It is bordered on the northwest by Honduras, on the east by the Caribbean, on the south by Costa Rica and the southwest by the Pacific Ocean.