The reserve is located within city limits of the capital , Managua , and is a popular tourist attraction . Restaurants and stores line the walls of the lagoon , while canopy rides provide a panoramic view of the old downtown where only a few buildings survived the 1972 earthquake that destroyed 90 percent of the capital city . Of course , many new buildings and shopping malls have been built since then . Many pre-Columbian artifacts have been found in and around lagoon and reserve . The lagoon has its unique ecosystem with its own characteristic flora and fauna and height
1972 earthquake
1972 Nicaragua earthquake
Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve