Location: Nicaragua is borded North by Honduras, South by Costa Rica, East by the Atlantic Ocean and West by the Pacific Ocean.

Population: About 5'000.000 inhabitants.

Ethnic groups: Mestizo: 69%, European Decent 17%, African Decent 9%, Amerindian 5%.

Area: 130.668 Km2. Nicaragua is the largest Central American country.

Water covered surfaces: 9.240 Km2 of the Nicaraguan land are covered by fresh water lakes and crateric lagoons. 8.000 Km2 of this area belong to the Nicaragua Lake and 1.000 Km2 to the Managua Lake.

Language: Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken on the Caribbean as well as Miskito and other Amerindian languages.

Electricity: 110 Volts, 60 Hz.

Area Code: After dialing your local international access number dial 505, then the local phone number.

Religion: Catholic 95%, other 5%.

Climate: The zone between the Nicaragua and Managua lakes and the Pacific ocean is dry and relatively little precipitation. Temperatures are in a range between 27ºC and 32ºC (81ºF y 90ºF) along the rainy season (locally call "invierno") and between 30ºC and 35ºC (86ºF and 95ºF) during the dry season (called "verano"). Verano season runs approximately from November to April and Invierno from May to October.

In the center, the mountain elevations cause a cooler climate which becomes more humid eastwards. From the center towards the Caribbean coast the climate is humid, tropical and high in precipitations which is prefect for a flourishing tropical rainforest.

Time: Nicaragua shares the American Central time (6h behind GMT). There is not daylight-saving time in Nicaragua.

Currency: Córdoba C$1=100 Centavos = 10 Reales.. ±C$14.75 = 1US$ (March 2003). Sometimes people calls currency Peso instead of Córdobas.

Taxes and Tips: The IGV (Value Added Tax) is the only tax that tourists must pay in Nicaragua which is 15%. Taxi drivers do not get tips beside the normal charge. Restaurant tips are between 10% and 15%. US$0.50 per moved piece of luggage is fine in hotels.

National Flower: Sacuanjoche (plumeria rubia)

National Bird: Guardabarranco (momotus momota)

National Tree: El Madroño (Calycophyllum Candidissimum)

Max Altitude: Dipilto-Jalapa ridge, 2107 m

Min Altitude: Sea level

Volcanoes
Active
Telica (1061m), San Cristobal (1745m), Cerro Negro (675m), Momotombo (1258m), Masaya (635m), Concepción (1610m)
Other important extint volcanoes
Mombacho (1345m), Madera (1394m) , Cosigüína (847m).

(Fuente: www.intur.gob.ni)