Geography of Nicaragua

Nicaragua is an incredibly beautiful country with wonderfully diverse geography. The country covers slightly less area than the state of New York but that does not mean it is small and uninteresting – quite to the contrary! Because there has been relatively little development in the country, you will still be able to enjoy many of the natural wonders that it has to offer. Much of the face of the country has also been altered by volcanic eruptions that only add to the amazing geography of Nicaragua.

Nicaragua is located in Central America. It is nestled between Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. Its western shores are lapped by the waters of the North Pacific Ocean while its eastern beaches enjoy the turquoise azure of the Caribbean Sea. As a result it enjoys some 910 km of stunning and varied coastline. Add to this the some 9240 sq km of water and you will find that Nicaragua is a virtual water wonderland filled with amazing and sometimes surprising opportunities. Nicaragua, as the largest Central American country, is even home to the largest body of freshwater in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua.

If you are trying to find Nicaragua on a map, its geographical coordinates are 13°00′N 85°00′W. It is at this precise location on the globe that you will find the amazing coastal plains, interior mountains, old volcanoes and the narrow pacific coastal plain that is known today as Nicaragua. The highest physical point of this stunning, sometimes rugged, country is a mountain called Mogoton, which stands at 2 438 meters above sea level. You will also find that the mountains in this country yield gold, silver, copper, tungsten, zinc and lead. There is plenty of timber that is drawn on by most of the population and fish is a very popular natural resource that is used for food.

For many one of the best features of this country is the climate. Those living in the lowlands and along the coast enjoy a warm, tropical climate – great for swimming and water sports. People living in the more mountainous highland areas are able to escape some of the heat. Unfortunately, Nicaragua does or has suffered from earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and hurricanes in the past. Many of these natural hazards are brought about by deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution but these issues are being addressed and will hopefully be solved in the near future.

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