World Country Guide

General Information

Area
120,254 sq km (46,430 sq miles).

Population
5,482,340 (official estimate 2003).

Population Density
50.3 per sq km.

Capital
Managua. Population: 1,374,025 (official estimate 2003).

Geography
Nicaragua borders Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. To the east lies the Caribbean, and to the west the Pacific. In the north are the Isabella Mountains, while the country’s main feature in the southwest is Lake Nicaragua, 148km (92 miles) long and about 55km (34 miles) at its widest. The island of Ometepe is the largest of the 310 islands on the lake. These islands have a reputation for great beauty and are one of the country’s main tourist attractions. Lake Managua is situated to the northwest. Volcanoes, including the famous Momotombo, protrude from the surrounding lowlands northwest of the lakes. The country’s main rivers are the San Juan, the lower reaches of which form the border with Costa Rica, and the Rio Grande. The Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz) in the Caribbean are two small beautiful islands fringed with white coral and palms. They are very popular as holiday resorts with both Nicaraguans and tourists. The majority of Nicaragua’s population lives and works in the lowland between the Pacific and western shores of Lake Nicaragua, the southwestern shore of Lake Managua and the southwestern sides of the range of volcanoes. It is only in recent years that settlers have taken to coffee growing and cattle farming in the highlands around Matagalpa and Jinotega.

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821. Head of State and Government: President Enrique Bolanos Geyer since 2001.

Language
Spanish. Along the Mosquito Coast (Costa de Mosquito), there are English-speaking communities in which African or mixed African and indigenous Indians predominate.

Religion
85 per cent Roman Catholic; 14 per cent Protestant.

Time
GMT - 6.

Electricity
120 volts AC, 60Hz.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 505. Outgoing international calls may be made via the international operator or through direct dialling.

Mobile telephone
The privatised telecommunciations and postal service, ENITEL (website: www.enitel.com.ni) and Sercom SA (website: http://pcsdigital.com.ni) both offer GSM 1900 services but coverage is mainly limited to Managua and the surrounding areas.

Internet
Internet cafes in Nicaragua provide public access to Internet and e-mail services. ISPs include IBW Internet Gateway (website: www.ibw.com.ni).

Fax/Telegram
Facilities in Managua.

Post
Most larger towns have an Enitel telecommunications and postal office. Airmail to Europe takes up to two weeks. Poste restante services are available in Managua. Post office hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1730.

Press
Main publications include the Confidencial, Nuevo Diario and La Prensa.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.