Nicaragua, the largest nation in Central America, is bordered by Honduras, Costa Rica, the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Slightly larger than the state of New York, it is characterized by its many lakes and volcanoes. Managua is its capital city.
In 1821, Nicaragua was granted independence from Spain. The country became an independent republic in 1838. In 1995, the constitution was revised in efforts to evenly distribute power among the four branches of government. It was revised again to increase judicial power. As of 1995, the President and members of the National Assembly are elected for 5-year terms. The President is head of the state and government.
Of the estimated 5.6 million people who live in Nicaragua, 69 percent are mestizo; the rest of the population are white, black or Amerindian. The official language is Spanish.
Many Nicaraguans practice the Roman Catholic religion, but a growing number are members of Evangelical Protestant groups.
Nicaragua’s main unit is the gold cordoba, which is equal to 100 centavos.
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