Physical Geography

Three geographic regions—the eastern, central, and western—make up Nicaragua. The eastern region is a largely undeveloped plain as much as 100 miles (160 km) wide. The coastal area of the plain, called the Mosquito Coast, is indented with many bays and inlets. The central region is a wedge-shaped area of mountain ranges. Here is Mogotón, Nicaragua's highest peak; it reaches a height of 7,999 feet (2,438 m). The western region consists of a lowland with scattered volcanoes and low mountain ranges. Two large lakes, Nicaragua and Managua, cover about half of the western region. This region is the most heavily populated section of the country.

Lakes Nicaragua and Managua were once bays of the Pacific Ocean. The rivers that enter these lakes from the interior are relatively small, as are all other west-coast rivers. The nation's largest rivers are on the east coast and flow into the Caribbean Sea. These rivers are relatively long and partially navigable, but are little used because they flow through a sparsely inhabited area. The longest are the Coco (or Segovia), the Grande, the Escondido, and the San Juan.

Nicaragua lies in the subtropics and has a generally warm and humid climate with little seasonal change in temperature. In the lowland areas temperatures average about 80° F. (27° C.) throughout the year. The highland areas are somewhat cooler. Rainfall is abundant, with the heaviest rains falling from May to November. The eastern plain and mountain slopes receive 100 to 250 inches (2,540 to 6,350 mm) a year, the amounts varying with location. The west is drier, with annual rainfall of 60 to 70 inches (1,520 to 1,780 mm) in most areas.

Animals include jaguars and pumas; monkeys; deer; colorful tropical birds such as parrots and macaws; and a wide variety of reptiles, such as alligators, large lizards, and snakes. The two large lakes contain sharks, swordfish, and other marine life that has adapted to freshwater.