Geography of Nicaragua
Continent | North America |
---|---|
Region | Central America |
Coordinates | 13°00′N 85°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 the Republic of Nicaragua Spanish: República de Nicaragua [reˈpuβlika ðe nikaˈɾaɣwa] ⓘ) is a country in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras. 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
The natural regions of Nicaragua are the Pacific lowlands, central highlands, and Caribbean lowlands.
Pacific lowlands
The Pacific lowlands extend about 75 kilometers inland from the Pacific coast.
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 between Nicaragua and Costa 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 the Panama Canal at 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 with volcanic ash from nearby volcanoes.[1] These lowlands are densely populated and well cultivated.[1] The natural vegetation of the Pacific lowlands is dry 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 and Managua.[1]
Because Western Nicaragua is located where two major
Central highlands
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 a mixed forest of oak and pine alternating with deep valleys that drain primarily toward the Caribbean.[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 with montane rain forests and are lightly populated with pioneer agriculturalists and small communities of indigenous people.[1]
Caribbean lowlands
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 (
These lowlands are a hot, humid area that includes coastal plains, the eastern spurs of the central highlands, and the lower portion of the
Fertile soils are found only along the natural levees and narrow floodplains of the numerous rivers, including the Escondido, the Río Grande de Matagalpa, the
Climate
Temperature varies little with the seasons in Nicaragua and is largely a function of elevation.[1] The tierra 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]
The tierra 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
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 and
Examples
Climate data for Managua (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 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
69 | 64 | 62 | 61 | 70 | 80 | 79 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 78 | 73 | 73 |
Mean monthly sunshine 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 daily sunshine 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 for Bluefields | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 for Puerto 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
Nicaragua is subject to destructive
Extreme points
- Northernmost point: North of Liwa Sirpe[2]
- Southernmost point: Trinidad, Río San Juan[2]
- Westernmost point: Pacific coast at Gulf of Fonseca, Chinandega Department[2]
- Easternmost point: Miskito Cays archipelago, North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region[2]
- Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m[2]
- Highest point: Mogotón 2,085 m[2]
Maritime claims
- Contiguous zone: 24 nautical 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
- 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
- ^ OCLC 30623751.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: August 11, 2021 (August 11, 2021). "Nicaragua". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Fox, Robert Nicaragua Still Reeling in Wake of a Hurricane Archived March 20, 2005, at the Wayback Machine accessed April 10, 2006
- 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. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
- ^ "Klimatafel von Managua (Int. Flugh.) / Nicaragua" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Station Managua" (in French). Météo Climat. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ "Climatological Normals of Bluefields, Nicaragua". Hong Kong Observatory. Archived from the original on 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
- ^ "Climatological Information for Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua". Hong Kong Observatory. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2012.