officially Republic of Nicaragua
Country, Central America.
Area: 50,337 sq mi (130,373 sq km). Population (2002 est.): 5,024,000. Capital: Managua . Most of the people are mestizo s (European and Indian mixed). Languages: Spanish (official), indigenous Indian languages, English. Religion: Roman Catholicism. Currency: córdoba oro. Nicaragua's western half consists of thickly forested mountain ranges and fertile valleys. Parallel to the Pacific coast is a belt of about 40 dormant and active volcanoes. The eastern coastline along the Caribbean Sea is known as the Mosquito Coast . Earthquakes are common and sometimes severe. Nicaragua has a developing market economy based largely on agriculture, light industries, and trade. It is a republic with one legislative house; its head of state and government is the president. The area has been inhabited for thousands of years, most notably by the Maya . Nicaragua soon thereafter. Nicaragua was governed by Spain until 1821, when it declared its independence. It was part of Mexico and then the United Provinces of Central America until 1938, when full independence was achieved. The U.S. intervened in political affairs by maintaining troops there (1912–33). Ruled by the dictatorial Somoza family (1936–79), Nicaragua was taken over by the Sandinista party after a popular revolt. They were opposed by armed insurgents, the U.S.-backed contra s, from 1981. The Sandinista government nationalized several sectors of the economy but lost national elections in 1990. The new coalition government returned many economic activities to private control, but political and social unrest continued into the 21st century.