Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America, with an estimated mass area of 130,000 square kilometers. It’s home to many tourist destinations ranging from volcanic mountains to white sandy beaches, hence the nickname land of fire and water. Nicaragua has a fantastic cuisine, with more than 2,000 dishes to choose from. For those planning a trip to this country or simply want to learn more about it, here’s a quick list of facts about Nicaragua.
1. Nicaragua Invented Its Own Sign Language
Nicaragua’s sign language is unique because it was created from scratch by deaf children from the region. They developed this sign language using unique syntax, grammar, and vocabulary; other languages had no influence.
This language was invented during the overthrow of the Somoza regime by the Sandinistas in the late 1970s. The new government was very keen on literacy. It opened the first public school for deaf students, which helped spread the popularity of this new language.
2. Season 21 of Survivor was Hosted in Nicaragua
Most of the Survivor reality TV show seasons are hosted in Fiji. However, during the 21st season, Jeff Probst took the competitors to Nicaragua. This season was aired in 2010, and it was won by Jud “Fabio” Birza, with Chase Rice coming in second place.
3. Nicaragua Has Been Suspected as a Transit Hub for Illegal Drugs
Over the years, Nicaragua has been suspected of being a transit hub for illegal drugs from Colombia. A couple of smugglers have been caught in Nicaragua ferrying drugs north for Colombian cartels. The country has denied these claims vehemently. Occasionally, lobster fishermen stumble into cocaine dumped by smugglers. They call it the “white lobster”.
4. Nicaragua Lost the Canal to Panama Because of Active Volcanoes
Did you know that the canal in Panama would have been built in Nicaragua? Apparently, the US abandoned Nicaragua for Panama because the latter had a shorter route and didn’t have a string of active volcanoes that would interrupt transport. In 2014, Nicaragua agreed with a Chinese company to build another canal linking the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. However, no work was done on this canal, and the deal was canceled early in 2024.
5. An American Became President of Nicaragua for 10 Months
William Walker, an American born in Honduras, gathered a group of 60 men and led a conquest into Nicaragua. Interestingly, he conquered the country and became president from 1856 to 1857. History remembers William as a revolutionary leader, filibuster, and adventurer.
6. It is Alleged that the CIA Funded the Contras in Nicaragua
Several news publications have claimed that the CIA funded the contras with illegal drug money from the United States. Over time, movies and documentaries have been made about this. However, the government has strongly criticized these allegations. In the DOJ’s defense, they only agreed to send $25 million in aid to the contras in 1985. A move that Congress approved. People who believe the CIA funded the contras in Nicaragua blame the government for the crack cocaine epidemic in the 80s and 90s.
7. Nicaragua and Three Other Countries Share the Same Flag Colors
Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras were part of one big country called the Federal Republic of Central America. As a result, they share the same flag colors, which are blue and white.
8. Nicaragua is One of Two Countries with the Color Purple on Its Flag
Still, on flags, only two countries use the color purple in their flags. One of them is Nicaragua, and the other is Dominica. This makes purple the rarest color on a flag.
9. There are Bull Sharks in Lake Nicaragua
Bull sharks are typically found in coastal waters. Therefore, it’s quite intriguing how they found themselves trapped inside Lake Nicaragua, which is a landlocked lake. The initial theory was that the Nicaragua Lake receded due to massive land shifts that trapped the Bull Sharks. However, in the late 1960s, it was discovered that Bull Sharks can jump along the rapid rivers of the San Juan River that connect the Caribbean Sea with Lake Nicaragua.
10. Nicaragua Accidentally Invaded Costa Rica Due to a Google Maps Error
In 2010, the internet went wild when Nicaragua accidentally invaded Costa Rica due to a Google Maps error. Commander Eden Pastora, who was in charge of this invasion, claimed that Google Maps was off by around 3,000 meters, thus leading to an accidental invasion.
Google admitted to this error and corrected it immediately. However, some critics claim that this is all a hoax. According to them, most accidental invasions only last minutes or hours. On the contrary, the Nicaraguan forces stayed in Costa Rica for weeks, which angered the authorities in the attacked country.
11. Ben Linder was Killed for Bringing Electricity to Nicaragua
Ben Linder, an American Engineer, was killed in 1987 by the Contras while trying to bring electricity to northern parts of Nicaragua. Linder was the first US citizen to be killed by the contras, who viewed Americans as their enemy.
12. Nicaragua Experienced Its Most Recent Volcanic Eruption in May 2024
In a country with ten active volcanoes, it doesn’t come as a surprise that eruptions are very common. At the time of writing this article, the most recent eruption occurred on May 17,2024, at the Volcano Concepcion on Ometepe Island.
