Geography of Nicaragua
 | |
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Central America |
| Coordinates | 13°00′N85°00′W/ 13.000°N 85.000°W |
| Area | Ranked 96th |
| • Total | 130,370 km2(50,340 sq mi) |
| • Land | 92.04% |
| • Water | 7.96% |
| Coastline | 910 km (570 mi) |
| Borders | Total border: 1,231 km (765 mi) |
| Highest point | Mogotón 2,085 metres (6,841 ft) |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean 0 metres (0 ft) |
| Longest river | Coco River 750 km (470 mi) |
| Largest lake | Lake Nicaragua 8,264 km2(3,191 sq mi) |
| Exclusive economic zone | 123,881 km2(47,831 sq mi) |
Nicaragua(officially theRepublic of NicaraguaSpanish:República de Nicaragua[reˈpuβlikaðenikaˈɾaɣwa]) is a country inCentral America,bordering both theCaribbean Seaand the NorthPacific Ocean,betweenCosta RicaandHonduras.Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America in square kilometers.
Nicaragua covers a total area of 130,370 square kilometers (119,990 square kilometers of which is land area) and contains a variety of climates and terrains.[1][2]The country's physical geography divides it into three major zones: the Pacific lowlands, the wetter, cooler central highlands, and the Caribbean lowlands.[1]
Natural regions
[edit]
Thenatural regionsof Nicaragua are the Pacific lowlands, central highlands, and Caribbean lowlands.
Pacific lowlands
[edit]The Pacific lowlands extend about 75 kilometers inland from the Pacific coast.[1]Most of the area is flat, except for a line of youngvolcanoes,many of which are still active, running between theGolfo de FonsecaandLago de Nicaragua.[1]These peaks lie just west of a large crustal fracture or structural rift that forms a long, narrow depression passing southeast across the isthmus from the Golfo de Fonseca to theRío San Juan.[1]
The rift is occupied in part by the largest freshwater lakes in Central America:Lago de Managua(56 kilometers long and 24 kilometers wide) and Lago de Nicaragua (about 160 kilometers long and 75 kilometers wide).[1]These two lakes are joined by the Río Tipitapa, which flows south into Lago de Nicaragua.[1]Lago de Nicaragua in turn drains into the Río San Juan (the boundary betweenNicaraguaandCosta Rica), which flows through the southern part of the rift lowlands to the Caribbean Sea.[1]
The valley of the Río San Juan forms a natural passageway close to sea level across the Nicaraguan isthmus from the Caribbean Sea to Lago de Nicaragua and the rift.[1]From the southwest edge of Lago de Nicaragua, it is only nineteen kilometers to the Pacific Ocean.[1]This route was considered as a possible alternative to thePanama Canalat various times in the past.[1]
Surrounding the lakes and extending northwest of them along the rift valley to the Golfo de Fonseca are fertile lowland plains highly enriched withvolcanic ashfrom nearby volcanoes.[1]These lowlands are densely populated and well cultivated.[1]The natural vegetation of the Pacific lowlands isdry forest,but much of it has been converted to agriculture or pasture. More directly west of the lake region is a narrow line of ash-covered hills and volcanoes that separate the lakes from the Pacific Ocean.[1]This line is highest in the central portion near the cities of León andManagua.[1]
Because Western Nicaragua is located where two majortectonic platescollide, it is subject toearthquakesand volcanic eruptions.[1]Although periodic volcanic eruptions have caused agricultural damage from fumes and ash, earthquakes have been by far more destructive to life and property.[1]Hundreds of shocks occur each year, some of which cause severe damage.[1]The capital city ofManaguawas virtually destroyed in 1931 and again in 1972.[1]
Central highlands
[edit]The triangular area known as the central highlands lies northeast and east of the Pacific lowlands.[1]These rugged mountains are composed of ridges 900 to 1,800 meters high and amixed forest of oak and pinealternating with deep valleys that drain primarily toward theCaribbean.[1]Very few significant streams flow west to the Pacific Ocean.[1]Those that do are steep, short, and flow intermittently.[1]
The relatively dry western slopes of the central highlands, protected by the ridges of the highlands from the moist winds of the Caribbean, have drawn farmers from the Pacific region since colonial times.[1]The eastern slopes of the highlands are covered withmontane rain forestsand are lightly populated with pioneer agriculturalists and small communities of indigenous people.[1]
Caribbean lowlands
[edit]The eastern Caribbean lowlands of Nicaragua form the extensive (occupying more than 50 percent of national territory) and still sparsely settled lowland area known as the Costa de Mosquitos (Miskito Coast).[1]The Caribbean lowlands are sometimes considered synonymous with the former department ofZelaya,which is now divided into theNorth Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region(Región Autónoma de la Costa Caribe Norte, RACCN) and theSouth Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region(Región Autónoma de la Costa Caribe Sur, RACCS) and constitutes about 45 percent of Nicaragua's territory.[1]
These lowlands are a hot, humid area that includes coastal plains, the eastern spurs of the central highlands, and the lower portion of theRío San Juanbasin.[1]The soil is generally leached and infertile.[1]Pine and palm savannaspredominate along the Caribbean coast as far south as theLaguna de Perlas.[1]There are extensive areas of tropical rain forest, including theIsthmian–Atlantic moist forestsextending southwards from the Laguna de Perlas past the Río San Juan into Costa Rica, and theCentral American Atlantic moist forestslying between the savannas and the central highlands, and along rivers through the savannas.[1]
Fertile soils are found only along the natural levees and narrow floodplains of the numerous rivers, including the Escondido, the Río Grande de Matagalpa, thePrinzapolka,and theCoco,and along the many lesser streams that rise in the central highlands and cross the region en route to the complex of shallowbays,lagoons,andsalt marshesof the Caribbean coast.[1]
Climate
[edit]Temperature varies little with the seasons in Nicaragua and is largely a function of elevation.[1]Thetierra caliente,or "hot land", is characteristic of the foothills and lowlands from sea level to about 750 meters (2,461 ft) of elevation.[1]Here, daytime temperatures average 30 to 33 °C (86 to 91 °F), and night temperatures drop to 21 to 24 °C (69.8 to 75.2 °F) most of the year.[1]
Thetierra templada,or "temperate land", is characteristic of most of the central highlands, where elevations range between 750 and 1,600 meters (2,461 and 5,249 ft).[1]Here, daytime temperatures are mild (24 to 27 °C (75 to 81 °F), and nights are cool (15 to 21 °C (59 to 70 °F)).[1]
Tierra fria,the "cold land" at elevations above 1,600 meters (5,249 ft), is found only on and near the highest peaks of the central highlands.[1]Daytime averages in this region are 22 to 24 °C (71.6 to 75.2 °F), with nighttime lows below 15 °C (59 °F).[1]
Rainfall
[edit]Rainfall varies greatly in Nicaragua.[1]The Caribbean lowlands are the wettest section of Central America, receiving between 2,500 and 6,500 millimeters (98.4 and 255.9 in) of rain annually.[1]The western slopes of the central highlands and the Pacific lowlands receive considerably less annual rainfall, being protected from moisture-laden Caribbean trade winds by the peaks of the central highlands.[1]
Mean annual precipitation for the rift valley and western slopes of the highlands ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 millimeters (39.4 to 59.1 in).[1]Rainfall is seasonal—May through October is the rainy season, and December through April is the driest period.[1]
During the rainy season, Eastern Nicaragua is subject to heavy flooding along the upper and middle reaches of all major rivers.[1]Near the coast, where river courses widen and river banks and natural levees are low, floodwaters spill over onto the floodplains until large sections of the lowlands become continuous sheets of water.[1]River bank agricultural plots are often heavily damaged, and considerable numbers of savanna animals die during these floods.[1]
The coast is also subject to destructive tropical storms and hurricanes, particularly from July through October.[1]The high winds and floods, accompanying these storms often cause considerable destruction of property.[1]In addition, heavy rains (called papagayo storms) accompanying the passage of a cold front or a low-pressure area may sweep from the north through both eastern and western Nicaragua (particularly the rift valley) from November through March.[1]
Hurricanes or heavy rains in the central highlands where agriculture has destroyed much of the natural vegetation also cause considerable crop damage andsoil erosion.[1]In 1988,Hurricane Joanforced hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans to flee their homes and caused more than US$1 billion in damage, most of it along the Caribbean coast.[1][3][4]In November 2020, two major hurricanes:EtaandIota,made landfall on the nation in nearly same locations in consecutive weeks, causing hundreds of deaths throughout the caribbean region and causing millions of dollars in damage.[5][6]
Examples
[edit]| Climate data forManagua(extremes 1952-present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37.0 (98.6) |
37.1 (98.8) |
37.8 (100.0) |
38.5 (101.3) |
38.5 (101.3) |
37.5 (99.5) |
39.2 (102.6) |
35.7 (96.3) |
36.5 (97.7) |
36.6 (97.9) |
35.4 (95.7) |
36.2 (97.2) |
39.2 (102.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.0 (87.8) |
32.1 (89.8) |
33.6 (92.5) |
34.3 (93.7) |
34.0 (93.2) |
31.4 (88.5) |
30.9 (87.6) |
31.4 (88.5) |
30.3 (86.5) |
30.8 (87.4) |
30.6 (87.1) |
30.8 (87.4) |
31.8 (89.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.3 (79.3) |
27.2 (81.0) |
28.5 (83.3) |
29.3 (84.7) |
29.3 (84.7) |
27.2 (81.0) |
26.8 (80.2) |
27.2 (81.0) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.2 (79.2) |
27.3 (81.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20.4 (68.7) |
20.6 (69.1) |
21.7 (71.1) |
22.6 (72.7) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.0 (73.4) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.4 (72.3) |
22.2 (72.0) |
22.1 (71.8) |
20.9 (69.6) |
20.0 (68.0) |
21.8 (71.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) |
15.2 (59.4) |
17.2 (63.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
16.0 (60.8) |
20.0 (68.0) |
20.0 (68.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
15.0 (59.0) |
17.0 (62.6) |
15.0 (59.0) |
16.2 (61.2) |
15.0 (59.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 9 (0.4) |
5 (0.2) |
3 (0.1) |
8 (0.3) |
130 (5.1) |
224 (8.8) |
144 (5.7) |
136 (5.4) |
215 (8.5) |
280 (11.0) |
42 (1.7) |
8 (0.3) |
1,204 (47.4) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 133 |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 69 | 64 | 62 | 61 | 70 | 80 | 79 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 78 | 73 | 73 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 263.5 | 254.2 | 291.4 | 276.0 | 229.4 | 186.0 | 151.9 | 195.3 | 210.0 | 223.2 | 231.0 | 248.0 | 2,759.9 |
| Mean dailysunshine hours | 8.5 | 9.0 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 4.9 | 6.3 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 8.0 | 7.6 |
| Source 1:Deutscher Wetterdienst[7] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[8] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forBluefields | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.8 (82.0) |
28.4 (83.1) |
29.0 (84.2) |
29.8 (85.6) |
29.9 (85.8) |
28.9 (84.0) |
28.1 (82.6) |
28.5 (83.3) |
29.1 (84.4) |
28.8 (83.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
28.0 (82.4) |
28.7 (83.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 24.9 (76.8) |
25.2 (77.4) |
26.2 (79.2) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.0 (80.6) |
26.0 (78.8) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.8 (78.4) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.3 (77.5) |
25.2 (77.4) |
25.8 (78.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.2 (72.0) |
22.3 (72.1) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.7 (74.7) |
24.2 (75.6) |
23.9 (75.0) |
23.7 (74.7) |
23.6 (74.5) |
23.5 (74.3) |
23.1 (73.6) |
22.8 (73.0) |
22.6 (72.7) |
23.2 (73.8) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 218 (8.6) |
114 (4.5) |
71 (2.8) |
101 (4.0) |
264 (10.4) |
581 (22.9) |
828 (32.6) |
638 (25.1) |
383 (15.1) |
418 (16.5) |
376 (14.8) |
328 (12.9) |
4,320 (170.2) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 19 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 225 |
| Source: HKO[9] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forPuerto Cabezas | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.7 (85.5) |
29.7 (85.5) |
30.5 (86.9) |
31.3 (88.3) |
31.8 (89.2) |
31.4 (88.5) |
30.8 (87.4) |
31.2 (88.2) |
31.2 (88.2) |
31.6 (88.9) |
30.8 (87.4) |
29.7 (85.5) |
30.8 (87.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 25.0 (77.0) |
24.5 (76.1) |
26.5 (79.7) |
27.2 (81.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
27.5 (81.5) |
27.1 (80.8) |
27.1 (80.8) |
27.0 (80.6) |
26.3 (79.3) |
25.8 (78.4) |
25.4 (77.7) |
26.4 (79.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.8 (65.8) |
18.6 (65.5) |
19.8 (67.6) |
20.9 (69.6) |
21.8 (71.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
21.9 (71.4) |
22.0 (71.6) |
22.2 (72.0) |
21.6 (70.9) |
20.8 (69.4) |
19.3 (66.7) |
20.8 (69.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 148 (5.8) |
83 (3.3) |
48 (1.9) |
54 (2.1) |
183 (7.2) |
378 (14.9) |
414 (16.3) |
370 (14.6) |
303 (11.9) |
338 (13.3) |
278 (10.9) |
202 (8.0) |
2,799 (110.2) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 16 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 198 |
| Source: Hong Kong Observatory[10] | |||||||||||||
Environment
[edit]Nicaragua is subject to destructiveearthquakes,volcanoes,landslides,and occasionally severehurricanes.[2]It currently facesdeforestation,soil erosion, and water pollution. It is a party to theUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,theClimate Change-Kyoto Protocol,theNuclear Test Ban,and theOzone Layer Protection,and has signed but not ratified theLaw of the Sea.[2]
Extreme points
[edit]- Northernmost point: North ofLiwa Sirpe[2]
- Southernmost point: Trinidad,Río San Juan[2]
- Westernmost point: Pacific coast atGulf of Fonseca,Chinandega Department[2]
- Easternmost point:Miskito Caysarchipelago,North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region[2]
- Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m[2]
- Highest point:Mogotón2,085 m[2]
Maritime claims
[edit]- Contiguous zone: 24nautical miles(44.4 km; 27.6 mi)[2]
- Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)[2]
- Exclusive economic zone:123,881 km2(47,831 sq mi)[2]
See also
[edit]
- List of ecoregions in Nicaragua
- List of islands of Nicaragua
- List of rivers of Nicaragua
- List of volcanoes in Nicaragua
- Protected areas of Nicaragua
- Territorial disputes of Nicaragua
- Water resources management in Nicaragua
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavawaxayaz
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain:Gilbert, Dennis (1994). "Climate and terrain". In Merrill, Tim (ed.).Nicaragua: a country study(3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.:Federal Research Division,Library of Congress.pp. 55–60.ISBN0-8444-0831-X.OCLC30623751.
- ^abcdefghijklThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain:August 11, 2021 (August 11, 2021)."Nicaragua".The World Factbook.Central Intelligence Agency.Retrieved2021-08-13.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^Fox, RobertNicaragua Still Reeling in Wake of a HurricaneArchivedMarch 20, 2005, at theWayback Machineaccessed April 10, 2006
- ^Preston, Julia,Washington Post(1988)Response Tepid to Managua's Aid Pleaaccessed April 10, 2006
- ^"Hurricanes Eta, Iota hit Nicaragua with $743 million in economic losses".The Jakarta Post.
- ^"Monitoreo Azul y Blanco reporta 28 muertos por el huracán Iota en Nicaragua".Confidencial(in Spanish). 2020-11-21.Retrieved2020-11-23.
- ^ "Klimatafel von Managua (Int. Flugh.) / Nicaragua"(PDF).Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world(in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst.Retrieved9 June2017.
- ^ "Station Managua"(in French). Météo Climat.Retrieved27 June2017.
- ^"Climatological Normals of Bluefields, Nicaragua".Hong Kong Observatory. Archived fromthe originalon 2015-07-02.Retrieved2012-03-13.
- ^"Climatological Information for Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua".Hong Kong Observatory. Archived fromthe originalon September 26, 2013.RetrievedDecember 6,2012.
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Dependencies and other territories | ||