Nicaragua got its name after the Indian Chief, Nicarao, and his people. Nicaragua is the largest Central American country located below Honduras and above Costa Rica. Although the country isn't much smaller than the state of New York, the total mass is 129,494 square kilometers. Nicaragua borders both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. Tropical climate is in the lowlands with cooler climate in the highlands. This interesting country is divided into three different regions called the Pacific, Central highlands, and Caribbean region. .
The Pacific region is a low area from Honduras to Costa Rica located on the West side of the country. Large farms, several volcanoes, and lakes are located in this area. The Central Highlands are located in the middle of the country making this area the highest and also the coolest region. The Caribbean Region, consisting of smaller islands off the coast, is on the eastern part of the country. Many rivers run through this flat plain. .
The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. In 1502, Christopher Columbus claimed the Nicaraguan land for Spain. On September 15, 1821, Nicaragua declared their independence from Spain, becoming a part of Mexico and leaving in 1823 to become their own country. The country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain Occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually lost control of the region within so many decades. Violent opposition to government, manipulation, and corruption spread throughout all Nicaragua by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Through much of the 1980's, there was protest to the Sandinistas, and beginning in 1990, Nicaragua started having free elections to determine who should rule their country. Nicaragua is a Republic today and their president is Enrique Blancos who has been ruling since January of 2002.
