Size: The biggest country in Central America at about 50,000 square miles (Washington state is approximately 66,000 square miles). Population: About 5.7 million. Income: Annual income is roughly $900 per person; some Nicaraguans...
See more »
Size: The biggest country in Central America at about 50,000 square miles (Washington state is approximately 66,000 square miles). Population: About 5.7 million. Income: Annual income is roughly $900 per person; some Nicaraguans live on a few dollars a day. The economy remains primarily agricultural, although manufacturing is increasing and tourism is growing and promoted by the government. History: Nicaragua's Pacific coast was settled as a Spanish colony in the 1500s; cities such as León and Granada were founded then. Britain occupied the Caribbean coast in the early 1800s. In modern times, widespread rebellion against the long-running Somoza dictatorship resulted in a civil war in 1979 that brought the Sandinistas to power. The U.S. sponsored anti-Sandinista Contra guerrillas in the 1980s. Peace and democratic elections came by 1990. Language: Spanish, with English spoken on the Caribbean coast. English is spoken at better hotels and restaurants in cities including the capital city of Managua, Granada, León and San Juan del Sur. Religion: Roman Catholic, but evangelical Protestant churches are growing fast, with American missionaries fanning out through Nicaragua.
See less »
Added by 1 person