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General Information Area: 120,254 sq km (46,430 sq miles); 11,250 sq km (4344 sq miles) of lakes. Population: 4,938,000 (1999). Population Density: 41.1 per sq km. Capital: Managua. Population: 1,093,760 (official estimate 1995). GEOGRAPHY: Nicaragua borders Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. To the east lies the Caribbean, and to the west the Pacific. In the north are the Isabella Mountains, while the country’s main feature in the southwest is Lake Nicaragua, 148km (92 miles) long and about 55km (34 miles) at its widest. The island of Ometepe is the largest of the 310 islands on the lake. These islands have a reputation for great beauty and are one of the country’s main tourist attractions. Lake Managua is situated to the northwest. Volcanoes, including the famous Momotombo, protrude from the surrounding lowlands northwest of the lakes. The country’s main rivers are the San Juan, the lower reaches of which form the border with Costa Rica, and the Rio Grande. The Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz) in the Caribbean are two small beautiful islands fringed with white coral and palms. They are very popular as holiday resorts with both Nicaraguans and tourists. The majority of Nicaragua’s population lives and works in the lowland between the Pacific and western shores of Lake Nicaragua, the southwestern shore of Lake Managua and the southwestern sides of the range of volcanoes. It is only in recent years that settlers have taken to coffee growing and cattle farming in the highlands around Matagalpa and Jinotega. Government: Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821. Head of State and Government: President Enrique Bolanos Geyer since 2002. Language: Spanish. Along the Mosquito Coast (Costa de Mosquito), there are English-speaking communities in which African or mixed African and indigenous Indians predominate. Religion: Eighty-five per cent Roman Catholic. Time: GMT - 6. Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 505. Outgoing international calls may be made via the international operator or through direct dialling. Mobile telephone TDMA network is operated by NicaCell, and is not compatible with GSM handsets. Internet Internet cafes in Nicaragua provide public access to Internet and e-mail services. ISPs include IBW Internet Gateway (website: www.ibw.com.ni). Fax/Telegram Facilities in Managua. Post Airmail to Europe takes up to two weeks. Poste restante services are available in Managua. Post offices are open Mon-Sat 0900-1730. Press Barricada is the main daily paper and is also published in English. Other main publications are Nuevo Diario, La Prensa and La Semana Cómica (weekly). BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.