The Land

Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanoes, is about the
size of New York state. The largest country in Central America,
Nicaragua is a country of geologic legend.

There are some 40 unique volcanoes, of which six are
active and they all are climbable. Today, the most active
volcanoes are Momotombo, Telica and the highest at 1,745m,
San Cristobal. A geothermal power plant at the base of
Momotombo is responsible for 10% of Nicaragua's electricity.

The volcanoes Concepcion and Maderas together make
up the largest freshwater island in the world, Ometepe. There
is a beautiful but difficult to reach crater lake on Maderas.

Also accessible and host to a protected cloud forest and
many coffee plantations is Volcan Mombacho near Granada.

Nicaragua is dominated by its two great lakes, Colibolca
(Lake Nicaragua) and Xolotlan (Lake Managua).
Unfortuantely, Xolotlan is biologically dead do to pollution
from Managua. Colibolca is the largest of the two lakes and
probably one of the countries greatest treasures. Within it lie
365 islands of varying size. Ometepe, Zapatera and the
Solentiname Archipelago are a few of the more well known.
The prevailing winds which blow from the east keep the
western edge of lake fairly choppy, however create ideal surf
conditions ten months of the year on the Pacific Coast.

Nicaragua also has numerous fresh water lagoons. Near
Masaya is the 200m deep crystal clear blue-green Laguna de
Apoyo formed during Nicaragua's most violent volcanic eruption.

Flowing through this land are also vast rivers. The Rio Coco
is the longest river in Central America. The elusive drain of
Colibolca, the famous Rio San Juan was navigated by Mark
Twain and made famous by those in search of a spot to build a
trans-isthmus canal.

The Caribbean islands, Corn Island and Little Corn Island
are located 70km off the mainland. Little Corn is a treasure of
empty white sand beaches, palm trees and just waiting to be
discovered.

Other Pearl keys are located much father to the north of the
coast of Cabezas Blancas.