Nicaragua+(Rebecca)

**__Nicaragua__** __ -Rebecca Pell- __

Welcome to this page. Hopefully it will teach you a little about the central American country of Nicaragua.



**__General Information__** **Capital City:** Managua

**Population:** 5.6 __million__

**Density:** approximately 42 people per sq. km

**Demographics** __ Age Structure: __ 0-14 years: 31.7% 15-64 years: 63.8% 65+ years: 4.5% __Median Age:__ Overall: 22.9 years old

Male: 22.1 years old Female: 23.7 years old __Urbanization:__ Urban Population: 57% of the total population __Sex Ratio__ Total Population: 1 male to 1 female At __birth__: 1.05 males to 1 female Under 15 years: 1.04 males to 1 female 15-64 years: 1 male to 1 female 65+ years: .78 males to 1 female __Life Expectancy at __Birth____ Total Population: 71.9 Male: 69.82 Female 74.09 __Total Fertility Rate__ 2.12 children born to 1 women __Major Infectious Diseases__ Risk: High __Ethnic Groups__ Mestizo (Amerindian and white mix): 69% White: 17% Black: 9%Amerindian: 5% **Religion:** Mainly Roman Catholic but some Evangelical congregations are growing rapidly. There are also some Moravian churches on the Caribbean coast. **Official Language:** Spanish but English and indigenous languages are spoken on the Caribbean coast. **Major Exports:** Bananas, Chemicals, Coffee, Cotton, Gold, Meat, Shellfish, and Sugar.

**Major Industries:** Agriculture, Beverages, Cement, Chemicals, Food Processing, Forestry, Mining, Petroleum, and Textiles. **Monetary System:**

The currency in Nicaragua is called the Cordoba Oro. One oro is divided into 100 centavos. They also accept American __dollars__ almost everywhere but you get change back in Centavos or Cordoba's. Prices are given with the letter C and a dollar sign preceding the amount (C$24). __Credit__ __cards__ are excepted in places that aren't small towns, etc. There is also ATM's available for __cash__ at banks and gas stations.

__**Geography**__ Nicaragua is a country between Honduras and Costa Rica in Central America. It's bordered by the North Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea on the east. It is the largest country in Central America but it's also the least populated. The west coast is volcanically mountainous with fertile valleys. The east coast is nicknamed Mosquito Coast because of the swampiness there. It has two large lakes, Nicaragua and Managua, connected by the Tipitapa River. __**Brief History**__ The name of the country comes from an Indian chief that lived in the country before the Spanish Conquest. Spain settled there in 1522 and Nicaragua __won__ it's independence in 1838. For about a century the politics were dominated by the competition for power between the Liberals and the Conservatives. The Liberals were centered in the city of León and the Conservatives in Granada. The United States sent a small detachment of marines to Nicaragua to show their support for the new Conservative government in 1909. The marines __help__ quell down polical disputes and fights. They left in 1933. In 1936 Gen. Anastasio Somoza García ordered Sandino's assassination. He was a dictator untill 1956, when he was assassinated. His son succeeded him, and the brother him. The Somozas rulled Nicaragua fiercely. Sandinista guerrillas, a group who took theri name from Sandino, launched an offensive attack in 1979. The seven week fight ended with Somoza fleeing the country on July 17, 1979. the assummed power within two days.On Jan. 23, 1981 the Reagan administration suspended the United States aid becuse they were charging the Nicaraguians, along with Cuba and the Soviet Union, for supplying arms to rebels in El Salvador. They denied the charges. Violetta Barrios do Chamorro led a anti-Sandinista coalition to victory in the 1990 elections. Support for her slowly died becuse business groups were dissatifsfied with the pace of reforms. **__Government/Current Political Situation__** The country is a republic. Daniel Ortega has been the president sence 2007. He was also the president from 1985 to 1990. This country is the 2nd poorest country in Latin America. They have had a difficult path in trying to achive democracy becasue of its many dictators, ongoing stuggles between rival groups and a civil war. Sense 1990 they have been developing democratic institutions and a framework for economic development. The president was inaugurated in 2007 for his five-year term. He seems to be developing general democratic policies. **__Culture__** Their food is a local blind of some flavors and ingredients from Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. Corn and beans are staples and garlic and onions are in most meals. THey eat corn tortillas with most meals. Their version is large, thin and made of white corn. It's used as an edible untensil. Beans are the daily necessary source of protein because they can't afford meat. They like small red beans usually enten refried in //gallo pinto//. It's mainly for breakfast. The Nicaraguan //tamales// is called a //nacatamal.// I meal of corn, rice, tomatoes, chili, potatoes, cassava root, and somethimes meat is wrapped in a banana like plant leaf. They like mangos andm plantains. The favorite nonalcoholic drink is coffee with hot milk at breakfast and black with sugar the rest of the time. //Pinol// is made from corn flour and water and //Tiste// is made from ground tortillas and cacao. Beer is the light alcoholic drink of choice with rum as the hard. When a person dies the spouse prepares the body for burial. The body is tehn laid out in the home for viewing and anyone can enter to look at the body. They belive in heaven and that deat is the passage way to eternal life. A lot of their art is ceramic and earthenware. They also enjoy silverwork, woodcarving, embroidery, and sculptin. On the Atlantic coast gold filigree is practiced. They love folk dancing. Nicaraguan Folk Dancing Traditional dance are usually preformed in festivals and fiestas. Children study this part of their culture in after-school programs. Lots of them include a //palo volador.// This is when a person is strapped to a pole and the unwind to the beat of percussion instruments. The also like to use //marimbas.//

__**Tourism**__ When visiting Nicaragua you should visit the city of Granada. It is called 'The Great Sultana' because of its beautiful colonial architecture. it's about 40 KM SE of Managua. It has a main square that it's centered around. It's main market is a couple blocks west of the main square. They have tropical fruits, fresh vegetables, meat, cheese, and fresh fish. You should mainly travel by foot so you can take in all the beauty of this fascinating city. Lake Nicaragua is a beautiful lake. It's where the original natives are belived to have lived. The lake is on the outskirts of the city of Granada. In the lake are two volcanos that have formed an island. This beautiful body of water is not to be missed. San Juan del Sur is a coast on the Pacific Coast. It has a cultural feeling while offering all the tourist attractions. **__Cu____rrent Events__** The president won his election by 63 precent when only 86% of the votes were in.That was over double the tally for his rival, Fabio Gadea. Gadea refused to accept results and accused Ortega of fraud but international election observers say voting irregularities had nothing to do with it. This is the 2nd time Ortega has won so he must really belive in the Nicarauran government.

In the past five or so years, Ortega has become more influential and present in the media. Some people are being reminded threw his rule of the Somoza families rule. He has ties everywhere. He has a friend in all areas of government and media. People are becoming scared that this democray may turn into a dictatorship. __**Sources**__ Google Images [] [] [] http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1850.htm http://www.indexmundi.com/nicaragua/demographics_profile.html http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/nicaragu.htm http://vianica.com/nicaragua/practical-info/6-money.html http://listofcurrencynames.com/Cordoba+Oro http://vianica.com/nicaragua/practical-info/6-money.html [] [] [] []