| Located in center of the American continent, | | | | 350+ species of trees, 12,000+ of species of plants (as |
| Nicaragua is the largest Central American country. | | | | many as 600 orchids alone) and perhaps more than |
| Nicaragua is home to very rich biodiversity, a truly | | | | 250,000 types of insects. There are many creatures |
| stunning array of flora and fauna. There are forests of | | | | as yet undiscovered in the wilds of Nicaragua. |
| different types, subtropical dry forest, tropical rain | | | | Some standout species are the jaguar, puma, ocelot, |
| forest, mangrove forest, wetlands, grass savanna and | | | | tapir, deer, anteater, macaw, quetzal, harpy eagle, and |
| tree savanna. On the Pacific side there is mostly | | | | toucan. There are diverse types of monkeys including |
| tropical dry forest and savanna. In the north, in the | | | | spider, howler and capuchin monkeys. There are also |
| mountainous regions, there are cloud forests and pine | | | | many types of lizards and snakes, including boas. Plus |
| forests. The two longest rivers in Central America run | | | | birds, bats, frogs, crabs, spiders and crocodiles. There |
| along the borders of Nicaragua. The Rio Coco (the | | | | are sea turtles on both coasts and a species of shark, |
| longest at 680 km or 423 miles) runs along the | | | | the bull shark, which can tolerate the fresh water of |
| northern border with Honduras and the Rio San Juan | | | | Lake Nicaragua. |
| runs along the border with Costa Rica in the south. | | | | All these species are distributed in the different biomes |
| The Rio San Juan area has both tropical wet forests | | | | from the country. There are a number of protected |
| and rain forests. There are many miles of coastline | | | | areas with nearly 20 percent of the territory listed as |
| and beaches as well. | | | | protected. The Reserve of Bosawás is the |
| The Pacific Basin is dotted with innumerable volcanoes, | | | | third largest reserve in the world and has the second |
| lagoons and lakes. The two great lakes are Lake | | | | largest rain forest in the Americas after the Amazon. |
| Nicaragua and Lake Managua and there are also 15 | | | | There are other vast reserves such as the Guatuzos |
| crater lakes. In the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the | | | | and Indio-Maize Reserves and the central part of the |
| largest lake in Central America and 21st largest by | | | | country is sparsely populated. This has helped |
| area in the world, is Ometepe Island formed by two | | | | preserve the biodiversity but logging and deforestation |
| volcanoes. | | | | are still a problem. Agriculture abounds in more |
| The climate (always hot) and the minimal altitudinal | | | | populated regions. Agricultural products include coffee, |
| variation have created an environment where diversity | | | | bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, |
| has bloomed. There are about 250 species of | | | | sesame, soy and beans. Animal products include beef, |
| amphibians and reptiles, about 250 species of | | | | veal, pork, poultry, dairy products, seafood, shrimp and |
| mammals, 700+ species of birds, 640+ species of fish, | | | | lobster. |