Learning about Nicaraguan Geography
Nicaragua is situated in Central America and is the biggest nation in the area. It is a very diverse country, both ethnically and environmentally, offering sensational vacations. The land here varies from flatlands to rugged volcanic peaks and everything in between, including tropical rain forests and jungles. The two longest rivers in the area, the Rio Coco and the Rio San Juan, are also the northern and southern borders of Nicaragua with its adjacent states.
The nation is speckled with lakes and volcanoes. The two principal lakes are Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua, but there are also over a dozen other lakes created from the craters of dormant volcanoes. Lake Nicaragua is the biggest lake in Central America.
The climate is sub-tropical, with temperatures hovering around 80 degrees in the summer months, and cooler in the mountains. The rainy season lasts the complete month of October. The climate is conducive to a wide diversity of animals, from mammals to insects, including birds and fish of all types. Many biologists believe there are still living specimens here that have not yet been catalogued. The country has taken steps to maintain this diversity by setting up large preserve areas across the country.
Agriculture is still the backbone of Nicaraguan life. Coffee is a widespread crop here, as are corn, bananas, and tobacco. Livestock is making a mark in the Nicaraguan economy as well, with beef, poultry, and seafood topping the list of growing export products. Unfortunately, the upsurge in animal exports has also lead to wide-spread deforestation, which remains a dilemma to this day in the country. Need for the old-growth wood found in the forests here is also in high demand, and what land isn't being cleared for livestock is being cut down for lumber.
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