Nicaragua

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

910 km

1,990 sq km (2012)

Central America and the Caribbean

destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m) is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telica

largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish

slightly larger than Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than New York State

13 00 N, 85 00 W

the overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters