Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central America , bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south.
The Pacific Ocean lies to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The country's physical geography divides it into three major zones: Pacific lowlands; wet, cooler central highlands; and the Caribbean lowlands.
On the Pacific side of the country are the two largest fresh water lake in Central America — Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua. Surrounding these lake and extending to their northwest along the rift valley of the Gulf of Fonseca are fertile lowland plains, with soil highly enriched by ash from nearby volcano s of the central highlands. Nicaragua's abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems contribute to Mesoamerica s designation as a biodiversity hotspot.
The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century. Nicaragua achieved its independence from Spain in 1821. Since its independence, Nicaragua has undergone periods of political unrest, dictatorship, and fiscal crisis—the most notable causes that led to the Nicaraguan Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.
Prior to the revolution, Nicaragua was one of Central America s wealthiest and most developed countries. The revolutionary conflict, paired with a 1972 earthquake, reversed the country's prior economic standing. Nicaragua is a representative democratic republic, and has experienced economic growth and political stability in recent years. In 1990, Nicaragua elected Violeta Chamorro as its president, making it the first country in Central America history and the second in the Western Hemisphere to democratically elect a female head of state.
The population of Nicaragua, approximately 6 million, is multiethnic. Roughly a quarter of the population lives in the capital city, Managua it is the third-largest city in Central America Segments of the population include indigenous native tribes from the Mosquito Coast, Europeans, Africa s, Asians, and people of Middle Eastern origin. The main language is Spanish although native tribes on the eastern coast speak their native languages, such as Miskito, Sumo, and Rama, as well as English Creole The mixture of cultural traditions has generated substantial diversity in art and literature, particularly the latter given the various literary contributions of Nicaraguan writers, including Rubén Darío, Ernesto Cardenal, and Gioconda Belli. The biological diversity, warm tropical climate, and active volcano s make Nicaragua an increasingly popular tourist destination.