| Republic of Nicaragua [Républica de Nicaragua] "Nicaragua"
was coined by the Spanish explorer Gil González Dávila
after Nicarao, a leader of an indigenous
community inhabiting the shores of Lake Nicaragua, and agua,
the Spanish word for "water."
Bordered By Honduras, Costa Rica
Total Area 59,998 sq
mi (129,494 sq km)
Greatest Distance N-S 293 mi (472 km)
Greatest Distance E-W 297 mi (478 km)
Coastline 512 mi (824 km)
Highest Point Cordillera Isabella; 8,000 ft (
2,438 m)
Lowest Point sea level
Natural Resources gold, timber,
hydropower and geothermal power potential
Nationality Nicaraguan
Population (July 2014 est) 5,848,641
Largest Cities Managua, Butterfield, Chinandega,
Granada, Jimotega, Leon, Masaya, Matalgalpa, Rivas
Ethnic Groups Mestizo, white, black, Amerindian
Religions Roman Catholic
Languages Spanish (official), English,
indigineous
Capital Managua
Form of Government republic
Present Constitution Adopted 1987
Chief of State and Head of Government President Jose
Daniel Ortega Saavedra (since January 10, 2007)
Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the
President
Legislature unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea
Nacional)
Judiciary Supreme Court (Corte
Suprema de Justicia)
Local Administration 15 departments, 2
autonomous regions, 153 municipalities
Currency cordoba
Per Capita Income $4,500
Industries agriculture, cattle, forestry,
fishing, retail, tourism, government
Agricultural Products coffee, bananas,
sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya,
beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Export Commodities coffee, shrimp and
lobster, beef, sugar, industrial goods, gold, bananas
Import Commodities consumer goods,
machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum
peoducts
Independence Achieved
September 15, 1821
From Spain
National Holiday
Flag three equal horizontal bands
of blue, white, and blue with the national coat of arms
centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a
triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on
the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; the banner is
based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal
Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the
Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band
represents the land between the two bodies of water
SEE ALSO
Lake Nicaragua
Honduras
Costa
Rica
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