Managua
Seal
Nickname: La Novia del Xolotlán (English:The Bride of Xolotlán)[1]
Managua Map of Nicaragua showing location of Managua. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States
Coordinates: 12°8′11″N 86°15′5″W / 12.13639, -86.25139
Country	Nicaragua
Department	Managua
Municipality	Managua
Founded	1819
Seat of the Government	1852
Capital of the Nation	1852[2]
Government
- Mayor	Dionisio Marenco
- Vice Mayor	Felipe Leiva
Area
- City	544 km² (210 sq mi)
- Urban	173. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America Nicaragua is a unitary Republic. For administrative purposes it is divided into 15 departments ( departamentos) and two self-governing regions |||} The departments of Nicaragua are dividied into municipalities ( municipios) Acoyapa Ahuaya A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 7 km² (67. 1 sq mi)
Population
- City	1,680,100
- Density	2,537/km² (6,570. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 8/sq mi)
Website: http://www.managua.gob.ni/

Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America It is also the largest city in Nicaragua. It is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua. Lake Managua (also known as Lake Xolotlán) (located at) is a Lake in Nicaragua. The city was declared the national capital in 1852. ^[2] Previously, the capital had alternated between the cities of León and Granada. León is the second largest City in Nicaragua, after Managua. Granada, with an estimated population of 110326 (2003 is Nicaragua 's fourth most populous city and capital of the Granada Department. The city has a population of about 1,680,100; composed predominantly of Spanish-speaking criollos (unmixed Europeans), whites and mestizos. Criollo is a term that dates back to the Spanish colonial Casta system ( Caste system) of Latin America White Latin Americans are the white population of Latin America. Mestizo is a Spanish term that was coined during the Spanish Empire to refer to people of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry in Latin

Founded in 1819 and given the name of Leal Villa de Santiago de Managua, its original purpose was to serve as a rural fishing village. ^[3] Efforts to make Managua the capital of Nicaragua began in 1824, after the Central American nations became independent from Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Managua's location between the rival cities of León and Granada made it an ideal compromise site.

The city has been witness to the rise and fall of political powers throughout Nicaragua's history, and has suffered two devastating earthquakes over the course of the 20th century. Managua is the economic, political, cultural, commercial and industrial center of Nicaragua. An economy is the realized social system of production exchange distribution and consumption of goods and services of a country or other area Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious"

In 2007, after a successful literacy campaign, Managua was declared the first capital city in Central America to be rid of illiteracy. The Nicaraguan Literacy Campaign, also called the Sandinista Literacy Campaign, was a campaign launched in 1980 by the Sandinista government in order to traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, ^[4]

Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Geography 3.1 Lagoons within city limits 3.2 Climate 4 Flora 5 Education 5.1 Colleges and universities 6 Economy 7 Sites of interest 7.1 Plaza de la Revolución 7.2 Old Cathedral of Managua 7.3 Rubén Dario National Theater 7.4 National Palace of Culture 7.5 Tiscapa Lagoon (Natural Reserve) 7.6 Dr. Roberto Incer Barquero Library 7.7 Museum of Acahualinca 7.8 Dennis Martínez National Stadium 7.9 The New Cathedral 8 Culture 8.1 Gastronomy 8.2 Festivals 8.3 Museums, libraries and cultural centers 9 Entertainment 9.1 Sports 10 Crime 11 Urban planning 12 Media & communications 13 Hospitals 14 Transportation 15 Sister Cities 16 References 17 External links

Etymology

The name Managua originates from Mana-ahuac, which in the indigenous Nahuatl language translates to "adjacent to the water" or site "surrounded by water". ^[2] The city stands today on an area historically inhabited by Indigenous people centuries before the Spanish conquest of Central America in the 16th century. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

History

Nicaragua was inhabited by Paleo-Indians as far back as 6,000 years ago. Paleo-Indians or Paleo-Americans were the ancient peoples of the Americas who were present at the end of the last Ice Age. ^[5] This is confirmed by the ancient footprints of Acahualinca found along the shores of Lake Managua, along with other archaeological evidence, mainly in the form of ceramics and statues made of volcanic stone like the ones found on the island of Zapatera and petroglyphs found in Ometepe island. The Ancient footprints of Acahualinca (ˌakawaˈliŋka Spanish: Huellas de Acahualinca) exist in Managua, Nicaragua near the southern Lake Managua (also known as Lake Xolotlán) (located at) is a Lake in Nicaragua. Zapatera is a Shield volcano located in the southern part of Nicaragua. Petroglyphs are Images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising pecking carving and abrading Ometepe is an island formed by two Volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua.

It was not until 1857, after Granada was destroyed by a U. S. mercenary army led by William Walker, that the capital was firmly established in Managua. William Walker ( May 8, 1824 &ndash September 12, 1860) was an American filibuster, adventurer and Mercenary Between 1852 and 1930 Managua underwent extensive urbanization; becoming a base of governance, infrastructure and services. ^[2] The city was hampered by major floods in 1876 and 1885 and a disastrous earthquake in 1931, which destroyed much of the city. The 1931 Nicaragua earthquake devastated Managua, Nicaragua in 1931. Under the rule of dictator Anastasio Somoza García and his family (1936–1979), it began to grow rapidly. Anastasio Somoza García ( February 1, 1896 &ndash September 29, 1956) was officially the thirty-fourth and thirty-ninth President New government buildings were erected, industry developed, and universities were established; Managua had become Central America's most developed city. Yet, the city suffered a second major earthquake on December 23, 1972, which destroyed 90% of the city and killed over 10,000 people. The 1972 Nicaragua earthquake refers to the Earthquake that occurred at 1229 a Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[6] The city was cleared, however it never returned to its previous state. The earthquake caused many of Managua's residents to find refuge in the outskirts of the city. The old downtown has not been rebuilt to this day for fear of future earthquakes.

Geography

Managua is located on the southern shores of Lake Managua (also known as Lake Xolotlán). Lake Managua (also known as Lake Xolotlán) (located at) is a Lake in Nicaragua. Lake Xolotlán contains the same fish species as Lake Cocibolca, except for the freshwater sharks found exclusively in the latter. Once a Managuan scenic highlight, the lake has been polluted from the dumping of chemical and waste water since 1927. A waste water treatment plant funded by the German government to decontaminate the lake is expected to be the largest in Central America and will be completed in 2008. Wastewater treatment plant also called wastewater treatment works Sewage treatment – treatment and disposal of human waste Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. ^[7]

Managua extends about 544 km along Lake Managua at an altitude of 55 metres (165 ft) above sea level, gaining altitude towards the sierras de Managua where it is over 970 metres (2910 ft) above sea level.

Lagoons within city limits

Managua features four smaller lagoons within the city limits. A lagoon is a body of comparatively shallow salt or Brackish water separated from the deeper Sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank, coral ----The term city limits (or city boundary) refers to the defined boundary of a City. The most centrally located is the Tiscapa Lagoon located in the Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve. Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve ( Spanish: Reserva Natural Laguna de Tiscapa) is a Lagoon of volcanic origin that formed over 10000 years ago The Laguna de Tiscapa (Tiscapa Lagoon), south of the old downtown. Tiscapa Lagoon is of volcanic origin and was formed approximately 10,000 years ago. Asososca lagoon, to the west, is Managua's most important source of drinking water. Asososca is located at the beginning of Carretera al Sur (Southern Highway), close to the connection with the Carretera Nueva a León (New Highway Via León). Nejapa lagoon, south of the Asososca lagoon, is also along the Southern Highway. The fourth lagoon is Acahualinca lagoon, which is located to the Northwest. This lagoon, which gives its name to a nearby district to the east, is located on the shores of Lake Managua. This lagoon is mostly noted for having shallow waters.

Climate

Managua, like much of Western Nicaragua except for the Sierras, has a tropical climate with constant temperatures averaging between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius (82 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit). A tropical climate is a kind of Climate typical in the Tropics. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. The months of December and January are chilly, whereas March and April are humid and somewhat arid.

Flora

Managua, due to its tropical climate, varied topography, naturally fertile soils, and abundant rain and water sources, boasts a great variety of flora. In Botany, flora ( Plural: floras or florae has two meanings The first meaning flora of an area or of time period, refers to all Therefore, many different types of trees (some of them not found in the rest of the world, such as chilamates, ceibos, pochotes, genizaros, tiguilotes, royal palms, pinuelas and the madroño, which is Nicaragua's national tree) surround the city. Roystonea ( Royal Palm) is a Genus of 10 Species of Monoecious palms, native to tropical regions of Florida National symbols of Nicaragua are the Symbols that are used in Nicaragua and abroad to represent the country and its people. During the rainy season (May to November), Managua becomes a lavish city due to many palms, bushes, and other plants and trees which dominate much of the city’s image. Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid or commonly palm tree) the palm family is a family of Flowering A shrub or Bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of Woody plant, distinguished from a Tree Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or ^[8]

Education

See also: Universities in Nicaragua, List of Schools in Nicaragua, and Education in Nicaragua

Managua is the national education center, with most of universities and higher education institutions based there. Universities in Nicaragua include two principal universities the Central American University (Universidad Centroaméricana - UCA and the National Autonomous University This is an incomplete list of Schools in Nicaragua American Nicaraguan School Colegio Centro América Education in Nicaragua is free for all Nicaraguans Elementary education is free and compulsory although this is not strictly enforced and many children are not able to attend Nicaragua's higher education consists of 48 universities and 113 colleges and technical institutes which serve student in the areas of electronics, computer systems and sciences, agroforestry, construction and trade-related services. A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects College ( Latin collegium) is a term most often used today to denote an Educational Institution. Electronics refers to the flow of charge (moving Electrons through Nonmetal conductors (mainly Semiconductors, whereas electrical A computer is a Machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions. Computer science (or computing science) is the study and the Science of the theoretical foundations of Information and Computation and their Agroforestry is an agricultural approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock In the fields of Architecture and Civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the Building or assembling of Infrastructure Trade is the willing exchange of goods, services, or both Trade is also called Commerce. ^[9] The educational system includes 1 U.S. accredited English-language university, 3 Bilingual university programs, 5 Bilingual secondary schools and dozens of English Language Institutes. Educational accreditation is a type of Quality assurance process under which services and operations of an educational institution or program are evaluated by an external body Bilingual education involves teaching all subjects in school through two different languages - in the United States instruction occurs in English and a minority language such as The purpose of an English Language Institute, or ELI, is to teach English as a second language to students from around the world In 2005, almost 400,000 (7%) of Nicaraguans held a university degree. A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of Higher education, such as universities, normally as the result of successfully completing ^[10] 18% of Nicaragua's total budget is invested in primary, secondary and higher education. University level institutions account for 6% of 18%.

Colleges and universities

National Autonomous University of Nicaragua

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN) (National Autonomous University of Nicaragua) is the principal state-funded public university of Nicaragua. The National Autonomous University of Nicaragua ( Spanish: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, UNAN) is the principal state-funded public university UNAN was established in 1812 and its main campus is located in Managua. The original campus, UNAN-Leon, is located in León and is now secondary, mainly used for medicine majors. León is the second largest City in Nicaragua, after Managua.

Polytechnic University of Nicaragua

Universidad Politecnica de Nicaragua (UPOLI) (Polytechnic University of Nicaragua) is a university located in Managua, Nicaragua. The Polytechnic University of Nicaragua ( Spanish: Universidad Politecnica de Nicaragua, UPOLI) is a university located in Managua, Nicaragua It was founded in 1967. The university is divided into 6 schools: School of Administration, Commerce and Finance, School of Law, School of Design, School of Nursing, School of Engineering, Music Conservatory. In Business, administration consists of the performance or management of business operations and thus the making or implementing of major decisions Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer The field of finance refers to the concepts of Time, Money and Risk and how they are interrelated Law is a system of rules enforced through a set of Institutions used as an instrument to underpin civil obedience politics economics and society Design is used both as a Noun and a Verb. The term is often tied to the various Applied arts and Engineering (See design disciplines Nursing is a Profession focused on assisting individuals families, and communities in attaining maintaining and recovering optimal Health Engineering is the Discipline and Profession of applying technical and scientific Knowledge and Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time.

Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas

Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas (INCAE) (Central American Institute of Business Administration) is a private business school. Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas ( English: Central American Institute of Business Administration INCAE is a Business school A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration INCAE was founded in 1964 with the support of the United States government and other Central American countries ^[11]. The institution has a close affiliation with Harvard University, as it had played a part in its foundation. The Francisco de Sola campus in Managua, Nicaragua was the first to be established (1964), the Walter Kissling Gam campus in Alajuela, Costa Rica was the second established in 1984. A campus is traditionally the land on which a College or University and related institutional buildings are situated A campus is traditionally the land on which a College or University and related institutional buildings are situated Alajuela is the capital city of the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica.

According to a study done by America Economia INCAE ranked as the number one business school in Latin America for 2 consecutive years (2004, 2005)^[12] and ranked in the top ten international business schools by The Wall Street Journal in 2006. A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration ^[13]

Other universities

La Universidad Americana (UAM) Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) University of Commercial Sciences (UCC)

Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNA) National University of Engineering (UNI) Catholic University (UNICA)

Economy

Managua is the economic center and a generator of services for the majority of the nation. La Universidad Americana (UAM is located in Nicaragua and was funded in 1992 by a group of professors "UCA" redirects here For other uses of the name UCA see UCA (disambiguation. The National Agrarian University ( Spanish: Universidad Nacional Agraria) is located in Managua, Nicaragua. Unlike many other Latin American countries, it does not suffer from massive migration of country peasants looking for work in the city, since many other cities of Nicaragua have well established economic industries. Nonetheless, as it is the only city with a population exceeding one million inhabitants, it houses many large national and international businesses. It is home to many factories which produce diverse products. ^[14] Multinational companies such as Wal-Mart, Telefonica, Union Fenosa, and Parmalat have offices and operations in Managua. Wal-Mart Stores Inc (or Walmart as written in its new logo is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large discount department stores Telefónica SA, (,,,,) is a Spanish telecommunication company. Unión Fenosa SA, ( is a large Spanish company dedicated to the production and distribution to end users of gas and electricity Parmalat SpA ( is a Multinational Italian Dairy and food corporation

Managua is also home to all of the major banks of the nation, Banco de la Produccion (BANPRO), Banco de America Central (BAC), Banco Uno, Banco de Finanzas (BDF), Banco de Crédito Centroamericano (BANCENTRO) and its parent company the LAFISE Group. Several new hotels including Crowne Plaza, Best Western, InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and Hilton currently have facilities in Managua. Crowne Plaza is a chain of full service upscale Hotels catering to business travelers and to the meetings and conventions market Best Western International Inc claims to be the world's largest Hotel chain with over 4000 hotels in InterConinental is a brand of upscale luxury Hotels originally founded by Pan Am, under Juan Trippe, and now owned by InterContinental Hotels Group Holiday Inn is a Brand name applied to Hotels within the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG UH Hilton Hoteljpg|thumbnail|right|The Hilton University of Houston in Houston Texas, located on the campus of the University of Houston, contains the Hilton College of ^[15] As well as many hotels, Managua has opened four western style shopping centers or malls, such as Plaza Inter, Centro Comercial Metrocentro, Galerias Santo Domingo, and Multicentro Las Americas with many more being constructed.

There is a huge established local market system that caters to the majority of the Nicaraguan population. The Mercado Roberto Huembes, Mercado Oriental, Mercado Israel Lewites and other locations are where one can find anything from household amenities, food, clothing and electrical and other contracting supplies. Many of the backpacking, ecotourism types and tourists on a budget use these markets for their supplies. Although one needs to use caution regarding wallets and personal items (as with many public markets around the world) the markets can be the source of high quality and unique items. Tourists looking for an authentic experience should consider these destinations as there is always something interesting to eat and local customs to be experienced.

Managua is also currently experiencing an upsurge in real estate prices and as well as a housing shortage. Real estate is a legal term (in some jurisdictions notably in the USA, United Kingdom Foreigners, mainly from North America and Europe, are becoming interested in considering post-retirement life in Nicaragua. Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely The capital is also a need for modern office space in downtown Managua as the economy of Managua continues to grow. Economists predict that its demand for commercial real estate will increase. New office buildings are currently being constructed along the Carretera Masaya and in Villa Fontana. The most recent inauguration being the Edificio Invercasa.

Sites of interest

Plaza de la Revolución

Plaza de la Revolución (Plaza of the Revolution), which was formerly known as Plaza de la República (Plaza of the Republic) is home to Managua's Historical Center. Managua's Center was destroyed by the 1972 earthquake. Managua, to date, has not rebuilt its center. The now Historical Center is located near the Lago de Managua and many building are partially intact, however, some are now abandoned. Lake Managua (also known as Lake Xolotlán) (located at) is a Lake in Nicaragua. Some of the more important buildings which managed to survive include the Catedral de Santiago (Old Cathedral), the Rubén Dario National Theater, and the National Palace of Culture. ^[16] Within the Plaza of the Revolution is the Parque Central (Central Park) which contains many historical monuments, many dedicated to inspirational people, national heroes and poets. Some of these include the Tomb of Comandante Carlos Fonseca, founder of the FSLN, which is guarded by an eternal flame. For the Brazilian boxer with the same name see Carlos Fonseca (boxer Carlos Fonseca Amador ( June 23 1936 &ndash November The Sandinista National Liberation Front ( Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional) is a socialist Nicaraguan Political party. An eternal flame is a flame or torch that burns constantly The flame that burned constantly at Delphi, was an archaic feature "alien to the ordinary Greek temple" Near Central Park is the Rubén Darío park, dedicated to Nicaragua's national poet. Félix Rubén García Sarmiento also known as Rubén Darío (Metapa January 18, 1867 &ndash Leon February 6, 1916) was a There is also a park dedicated to the Guatemalan writer Miguel Ángel Asturias. Miguel Ángel Asturias Rosales (October 19 1899 – June 9 1974 was a Nobel Prize –winning Guatemalan Poet, Novelist, and Diplomat Monuments include the monument of El Guerrillero sin Nombre (The Nameless Guerrilla Soldier) and Monumento a la Paz (Monument for Peace). ^[17]

Old Cathedral of Managua

The old Cathedral of Managua was designed in, and shipped from Belgium in 1920. The Old Cathedral of Managua is a Cathedral in Managua, Nicaragua. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those ^[18] The cathedral survived the 1931 earthquake but was extremely damaged due to the 1972 earthquake and was condemned, which led to the construction of the new cathedral of Managua, the newest constructed Roman Catholic cathedral. However, in recent years, the restoration of the old cathedral has appeared to be possible and is currently awaiting its renovation.

Rubén Dario National Theater

The Rubén Dario National Theater is Nicaragua's most important theater, and is one of the most modern theaters in Central America. The Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío ("Rubén Darío National Theater" is the National theater of Nicaragua. Both national and international artists present shows, concerts, exhibitions, and cultural performances such as El Güegüense among many others. El Güegüense (also known as Macho Ratón) is a Satirical Drama and was the first literary work of post-columbian Nicaragua. The National Theater is one of the few buildings that survived the 1972 earthquake that destroyed 90% of Managua. ^[19]

National Palace of Culture

The National Palace is one of the most impressive buildings in Nicaragua. It was built by President Juan Bautista Sacasa in 1935 and it houses plenty of history. Juan Bautista Sacasa (1874-1946 was President of Nicaragua from 1933-1936 For more than 50 years, the National Palace was used as governmental office and now serves several purposes. The National Palace houses the National Archive, the National Library, as well as the National Museum which is open to the public. The General National Archive ( Archivo General de la Nación) is charged with conserving the documentary heritage of Nicaragua, standardizing the national archival The museum features paintings, pre-Columbian statues, ceramics, etc. The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences Also present inside is the National History room, as well as a room with the National Symbols. The National Palace of Culture (Palacio Nacional de la Cultura) was one of few building that survived the 1972 earthquake. ^[20]

Tiscapa Lagoon (Natural Reserve)

The Tiscapa Lagoon, located inside the Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve is just south of the Managua's Historical Center. Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve ( Spanish: Reserva Natural Laguna de Tiscapa) is a Lagoon of volcanic origin that formed over 10000 years ago Leading up to the Lagoon is the Monumento Roosevelt (Roosevelt Monument). Another interesting monument is the statue of Sandino which is a statue of the Silhouette of General Augusto C. Sandino, Nicaragua's national hero and stands at 59 feet tall. Augusto Nicolás Calderón Sandino ( May 18, 1895 &ndash February 21, 1934) was a Nicaraguan revolutionary and leader of a rebellion ^[21] The monument was proposed by Ernesto Cardenal and is protected by the Nicaraguan military. Reverend Father Ernesto Cardenal Martínez (born January 20, 1925) is a Nicaraguan Catholic Priest and was one of the most famous This article deals with the Armed forces of Nicaragua. History National Guard 1927-1979 See also National Guard (Nicaragua The long The Sandino monument was constructed on top of the wreckage of Somoza's presidential mansion. Also on the crater lip of Tiscapa is the Las Masmorras, a prison in which Somoza tortured current President Daniel Ortega and many other political prisoners, however, this site is closed to the public. José Daniel Ortega Saavedra (xoˈse ðanjεl ɔrteγa saˈβeðra(born 11 November 1945 is the current President of Nicaragua. A political prisoner is someone held in Prison or otherwise detained perhaps under House arrest, for his or her involvement in political activity ^[17]

The reserve is located within city limits of the capital, Managua, and is a popular tourist attraction. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Restaurants and stores line the walls of the lagoon. Canopy rides provide a panoramic view of the old downtown where only a few buildings survived the 1972 earthquake that destroyed 90% of the capital city,^[22] however, many new buildings and shopping malls have been built since then throughout the city due to the lack of a new center. ^[23] Many pre-Columbian artifacts have been found in and around lagoon and reserve. ^[24]

Dr. Roberto Incer Barquero Library

The Dr. Roberto Incer Barquero Library, located in Managua, is designated to promote Nicaraguan culture. Nicaraguan culture has several distinct strands The west of the country was colonized by Spain and has a similar culture to other Spanish -speaking Latin American The library has 67,000 books, free internet, a newspaper archive where users can borrow newspapers and magazines, and economical information of the Central Bank. Furthermore, the library offers a gallery in the same building, where famous Nicaraguan paintings, as well as pieces from new promising artists, are exhibited. In the numismatic hall there is a permanent exhibition of Nicaraguan coins, bills, and memorial medals from throughout Nicaragua's history. ^[25]

Museum of Acahualinca

Managua is also home to the Museum of Acahualinca where the Ancient footprints of Acahualinca, fossilized Paleo-Indian footprints made some 6,000 years ago, are engraved in volcanic ash. The Ancient footprints of Acahualinca (ˌakawaˈliŋka Spanish: Huellas de Acahualinca) exist in Managua, Nicaragua near the southern Paleo-Indians or Paleo-Americans were the ancient peoples of the Americas who were present at the end of the last Ice Age. The museum "Museo Sitio Huellas de Acahualinca" is located in west Managua in the Acahualinca neighborhood. In addition to the footprints, the museum also displays artifacts found in other localities around the country. Artifacts such as mammoth footprints, pre-Columbian tools, a skull from León Viejo, and a small collection of pottery among other archaeological objects. A mammoth is any Species of the Extinct Genus Mammuthus. These Proboscideans are members of the elephant family and León is the second largest City in Nicaragua, after Managua. ^[26]

Dennis Martínez National Stadium

The Dennis Martínez National Stadium was built in 1948 and was the largest stadium in Central America at the end of its construction, it survived the 1972 earthquake. Dennis Martínez National Stadium (Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez is located in Managua, Nicaragua. The stadium was named in honor of Nicaragua first baseball player to play in Major League Baseball, it serves as a venue for baseball and football (soccer) games, as well as concerts and religious events. The Dennis Martínez National Stadium has a capacity for 40,000 making it the largest stadium in Nicaragua. ^[27]

The New Cathedral

The Catedral Metropolitana de la Purisima Concepcion (Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception), more commonly referred to as La Nueva Catedral (The New Cathedral), was designed by the architect Ricardo Legorreta and inaugurated in 1993. The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception ( Spanish: Catedral Metropolitana de la Purisima Concepcion) referred to as the New Cathedral Ricardo Legorreta Vilchis is a Mexican architect He was born in a taxi in Mexico City on May 1, 1931. ^[28] The new cathedral was built to replace the old cathedral, which had been damaged by the 1972 earthquake. The new cathedral has created much controversy, particularly about its architectural style and finance.

Culture

See also: Culture of Nicaragua

Managua is Nicaragua's cultural capital, boasting several restaurants, theaters, museums, and luxurious shopping centers. Nicaraguan culture has several distinct strands The west of the country was colonized by Spain and has a similar culture to other Spanish -speaking Latin American This article is about the sociological term See also European Capital of Culture. A restaurant is a retail establishment that serves prepared Food to Customers. Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development open to the public which acquires conserves researches communicates and exhibits the Shopping is the examining of Goods or services from Retailers with intent to purchase at that time ^[29] The city is also home to many communities of immigrants and ex-pats from but not limited to: Taiwan, China, Germany, the United States, Palestine, and Latin American countries. An expatriate (in abbreviated form expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.

Managua is home to the annual Miss Nicaragua pageant; it is the national beauty pageant of Nicaragua. The Miss Nicaragua contest is the national beauty pageant of Nicaragua and is a franchise of SILUHETAS a modeling agency The pageant is traditionally held at the Rubén Darío National Theater and has been held since 1955. The Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío ("Rubén Darío National Theater" is the National theater of Nicaragua. ^[30] The Miss Nicaragua pageant is responsible for selecting the country's representatives to the Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International pageants (amongst others). Miss Universe is an annual international Beauty contest run by the Miss Universe Organization. The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international Beauty pageant created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951 Miss International (officially titled The International Beauty Pageant) is the fourth largest Beauty pageant in the world

Gastronomy

Managua has an important gastronomical culture, due to the influence of immigrants and tourists, for that reason it is frequent to find food specialties of the diverse regions of Nicaragua, jointly with international ones. Managua enjoys an array of international cuisine,^[31] including, but not limited to, Argentine, Brazilian, Chinese, French, German, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and Spanish restaurants, as well as Nicaraguan. This article was a former Spanish Translation of the Week. The cuisine of Argentina is distinctive in South America because of its The cuisine of Brazil, like Brazil itself varies greatly by region Chinese cuisine ( Traditional Chinese: 中國菜 Simplified Chinese: 中国菜 originated from the various regions of China and has become widespread in French cuisine is a style of cooking derived from the nation of France. German cuisine varies greatly from region to region The southern regions of Bavaria and Swabia share many dishes among them and with their neighbours to the south Italian cuisine as a national Cuisine known today has evolved through centuries of social and political changes with its roots traced back to 4th century BC Japanese Cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes Mexican food is a style of food that originated in Mexico. Mexican cuisine is known for its intense and varied flavors colorful decoration and variety of spices Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography culture and climate The Cuisine of Nicaragua is as diverse as its inhabitants It is a mixture of criollo style food and pre-Columbian dishes These are accompanied by many U. S. fast food chains, as well as national fast food chains such as Tip-Top and Rosti-Pollo. Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly Tip-Top (often referred to as 'Pollo Tip-Top' is a national chain of restaurants in Nicaragua, predominantly selling chicken A new culinary school and restaurant called Culinario Santa Lucia offers fun courses in international and local cuisines.

Festivals

Managua's most famous festival is that of its patron saint Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Santo Domingo de Guzmán (known as Santo Domingo population 2084852 (Metro (2003 estimated 2253437 (Metro in 2006 is the Capital and largest city in the ^[33] It starts on the morning of August the 1st, when the "Bajada del Santo" (walk down of the saint) involves many joyful people walking and carrying the old statue of Santo Domingo from Las Sierritas Church in south Managua, to another church across the city to the north, in the area destroyed by the 1972 earthquake. It remains here for ten days until the morning of August the 10th, when the "Subida del Santo" (walking up of the saint) returns the statue to Las Sierritas Church where it remains for the rest of the year. Thousands of people attend this event which involves dancing, eating and drinking around marching musical bands, mainly for traditions that date back to pre-colonial times, or to ask for personal miracles, make promises, or give thanks to the saint . During the parade many people dress up in typical costumes, masks and painted bodies. Among other participants are "carrosas" (art cars and trucks) from local business companies, horseriders coming from Nicaragua and other Central American neighbouring countries to show off their horses, skills, and horserider costumes.

Another and newer festival has been taking place every year since 2003. The "Alegria por la Vida" (Happiness for Life) Carnaval is celebrated in Managua at the beginning of the month of march. Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March There's a different slogan or theme every year. This event is celebrated with parades, floats, live music, food and dancing as well as the march of the Carnival Queen. A parade (also called march or marchpast) is a procession of people usually organized along a street often in Costume, and often accompanied by Fire A pontoon is a flat-bottomed Boat or the floats used to support a structure on water ^[34]

Museums, libraries and cultural centers

See also: Museums in Nicaragua

The National library holds a great amount of volumes, and affords abundant bibliographic information for anyone interested in the discovery and independence of Nicaragua. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America The National Palace of Culture has on show an interesting exhibition of Nicaraguan art from the periods previous to its independence. Also located inside the National Palace of Culture is the National Museum containing some highly interesting archaeological finds with some good examples of pre-Columbian pottery, statues, and other interesting finds. Managua is also home to an array of art galleries which feature pieces by both national and international artists. An art gallery or art museum is a space for the exhibition of art, usually Visual art. ^[33]

Managua is home to many types of museums, some art museums include the Julio Cortazar Museum and the Archivo Fílmico de la Cinemateca Nacional. A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development open to the public which acquires conserves researches communicates and exhibits the An art gallery or art museum is a space for the exhibition of art, usually Visual art. Natural history museums include the Museo del Departamento de Malacología UCA, Museo Gemológico de la Concha y el Caracol, and Museo Paleontológico “El Hato”. The Santo Domingo de Guzmán Museum is an anthropology museum. Anthropology (/ˌænθɹəˈpɒlədʒi/ from Greek grc ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos, "human" -λογία -logia) is the study of History museums include the Museo de la Revolución, Museo Casa Hacienda San Jacinto, Museo Histórico Municipal de Coritno, and Museo Parque Loma de Tiscapa. History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology

Cultural centers in Managua include the Centro Cultural Nicaragüense Norteamericano (CCNN) (Nicaraguan-North American Culture Center), the Centro Cultural Chino Nicaragüense (Chinese Nicaraguan Culture Center), the Alliançe Française de Managua (French Alliance of Managua), among others. Chinese Nicaraguans ( Simplified Chinese: 尼加拉瓜华人 Pinyin: ní jiā lā guā huá rén Spanish: Chino Nicaragüense) are

Entertainment

Managua features many bars, nightclubs, casinos, theaters and cinemas. A bar (also called a Pub or Tavern) is a business that serves drinks especially Alcoholic beverages such as beer liquor and mixed drinks for consumption A nightclub (or "night club" or "club" is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark A casino is in the modern sense of the word a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of Gambling activities Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one Cinemaaustraliajpg|thumb|A movie theater in Australia ]]A movie theater, movie theatre, picture theatre or cinema is a venue Compared to western prices, alcoholic beverages, theatre visits and cinema tickets are relatively cheap. ^[8] There are cinemas in all major shopping centers; screening both English- and Spanish-language films. Foreign embassies in Managua also sponsor film festivals. A film festival is the presentation or showcasing of Films in one or more Movie theaters or screening venues

Since the late 1990s and early 2000, many casinos and karaoke bars opened and have remained popular attractions for Nicaraguans and foreign visitors. They are open to anyone above 21 years old. However there's been moral controversy about the negative effects of gambling in a country with so much poverty. Popular music includes the Palo de Mayo, Merengue, and Latin pop among other Latin music genres, as well as American pop and rock. Palo de Mayo (Maypole or ¡Mayo Ya! is a type of Afro-Caribbean dance with sensual movements that forms part of the culture of several communities in the RAAS region Latin Pop ( Pop Latino, in Spanish) generally refers to Pop music that has what may be perceived a "Latin" influence Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Salsa dancing is a national pastime. Salsa refers to a fusion of informal dance styles having roots in the Caribbean (especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico) Latin and North America Nightclubs and bars are abound in Managua, particularly, in the popular areas called "Zona Hippos" behind the Hilton hotel near Metrocentro and "Zona Rosa".

Aside from these activities, Managua also has a wide selection to offer in luxurious shopping malls, boutiques and department stores as well as local markets. A shopping mall or shopping centre is a building or set of buildings that contain Retail units with interconnecting Walkways enabling visitors A boutique, from the French word for "shop" is a small Shopping outlet especially one that specialises in elite and fashionable items such as Clothing A department store is a Retail establishment which specializes in selling a wide range of products without a single predominant merchandise line. Sao Paulo Stock Exchangejpg|thumb| Virtual market arena where buyer and seller are not present and trade via intemediates and electronical information ^[8] The Mercado Roberto Huembes is where shoppers can find everything from furniture, national arts and crafts, to fruits and vegetables, and clothing. Also there are several shopping centers with department stores such as ECLIPSE, CARRION, and SIMAN which house all major Australian, American and European clothing and cosmetic brands for both men and women. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Pali, La Union, and La Colonia are conventional supermarkets, which are located in several areas of the city, and sell local and imported ingredients from all over the world. Customer divider barjpg|thumb|In supermarkets sellers periodically change prices for classes of goods in response to market conditions rather than negotiating the price of each good

Although the act of promoting or practicing homosexuality is illegal in Nicaragua,^[35] there is a modest gay social scene in Managua. Age of consent Since 1 March 2008 Homosexuality has been legal by a new Penal Code. Gay community or LGBT community is a term used to describe the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender subculture ^[36] Also, as of March 2008, homosexuality will no longer be illegal or carry any prison sentence.

Sports

Baseball is by far, Nicaragua's most popular sport followed by football soccer and boxing. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, The Dennis Martínez National Stadium is home to many baseball games of Managua's Boer team. Dennis Martínez National Stadium (Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez is located in Managua, Nicaragua. At the time of its construction in the late 1960s, it was the most modern stadium in Central America. It hosted the Baseball World Cup in 1994. The Baseball World Cup is an international tournament in which national Baseball teams from around the world compete Baseball was first introduced to Nicaragua in 1888 in the Caribbean coastal town of Bluefields, but didn't catch on in the towns on the Pacific coast region until 1891 when a group of mostly students originating from universities of the United States formed "La Sociedad de Recreo" (Society of Recreation) where they played various sports, however, baseball was the most popular among them. Bluefields is the capital of the Municipality of the same name and of R ^[37]

Since the anticipation of the World Cup of 2006, there's been growing amateur interest in the practice of little football or "futbolin" among teens and adults. New private courts or "canchas" like La Meca del Futbol and La Liga, offer well conditioned courts for rent by the hour. Such establishments have played a big role in the promotion of amateur games and fun tournaments. On the professional level, the National Nicaraguan Football team has still not had the public support nor the international exposure as the regional counterparts from Central America like the Costa Rican or Honduran teams. However, with support of the FIFA, the first ever national football stadium in Managua is currently under construction. ^[38] In Managua there are 2 golf courses, the better known of which is Nejapa Golf & Country Club.

Crime

Nicaragua has been rated the safest country in Central America by various sources. Statistics and surveys by INTERPOL, the United Nations, INCAE, the Inter-American Human Rights Institute and the Police Forces in the Americas show that statistically, Nicaragua has the lowest crime rate in Central America and one of the lowest in Latin America. The International Criminal Police Organization, better known by its telegraphic address Interpol is an organization facilitating international police cooperation The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas ( English: Central American Institute of Business Administration INCAE is a Business school Crime statistics attempt to provide a statistical measure of the level or amount of- Crime that is prevalent in societies ^[39][40][41] In addition, Nicaragua has the lowest homicide rate in Central America. List of countries by homicide rate Homicide ( Latin homicidium, homo human being + caedere to cut kill refers to the act of killing another In 2007 the homicide rate was 14 per 100,000 people. ^[42] Managua has also been rated the safest capital in the region,^[43] however, 40% of the crime that occurs in Nicaragua is centered in Managua. In 2005 Managua experienced a growth of 23. 2% in crime, although it is the safest capital in the region, crime rates for Managua and neighboring cities have been rising over the past years. In Managua, the most common type of crime is property crime, petty theft and street crime such as robbery and mugging. Property crime is a category of Crime that includes among other crimes Burglary, Larceny, Theft, Motor vehicle theft, Arson In Criminal law, theft (also known as stealing or filching) is the illegal taking of another person's Property without that person's freely-given Street crime is a loose term for criminal offences taking place in public places Robbery is the Crime of seizing Property through Violence or Intimidation. ^[44]

Neither Nicaragua or the city of Managua have major gang problems, in comparison to its regional neighbors. Gangsters redirects here For the computer game see Gangsters (video game. ^[45] However, in Nicaragua, as in all other Central American countries, as well as in the U. S. , the Salvadoran-founded MS 13 gang has recruited members. Mara Salvatrucha are large gangs in Northern Central America and the United States. ^[46] Despite their presence in the country, Nicaragua has the lowest number of MS 13 members in Central America. ^[47] The number of gang members was estimated at 4,500 throughout the country, lower than all of its Northern neighbors in the region (excluding Belize). ^[48] In 2003, the Policía Nacional de Nicaragua (National Police of Nicaragua) recognized gangs committed only 0. 51% of all crimes. In 1991, there were 110 gangs in Managua, in 2001 the number of gangs reduced to 96 gangs with a total of 1,725 members. Over the next 3-4 years the number of gangs and gang members both decreased and increased. In late 2005 the number of gangs and members decreased significantly to 34 gangs and their 706 members in Managua, these represented 38% and 32% of the national total of gangs and its members. ^[49] In a recent report by La Prensa, Chief of Police, Aminta Granera, stated that vehicles robberies has reduced; a mere 200 reports were filed in 2006. La Prensa is a Nicaraguan Newspaper, with offices in the capital Managua. Aminta Granera was a Nicaraguan Sandinista who fought against the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle in the 1970's ^[42]

Urban planning

The German government is currently funding the construction of a water treatment plant with plans to process the city's sewage and clean the Managua lake. When finished, it will be the largest water treatment plant in Central America. ^[7] Also pending is a mega-project to reconstruct the old center of Managua, and to introduce a monorail system, to alleviate future transportation problems in Managua. A monorail is a transportation system based on a single beam The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system or the vehicles travelling on such a beam or ^[50] Both of these projects will revitalize the old center of Managua and boost tourism, commerce, infrastructure and economic development.

Media & communications

Managua is the home of most national broadcasting television channels as well as the major national newspapers. Some of the larger television channels include: Canal 2, Telenica, Canal 10, 100% Noticias, and several others. Televicentro Canal 2 is a nationwide terrestrial television channel from Nicaragua owned by Televicentro de Nicaragua S Telenica (Canal 8 is a nationwide terrestrial Television channel from Nicaragua, owned by Nicaraguan businessman Carlos Briceño. Two of Nicaragua's main newspapers are El Nuevo Diario and La Prensa, both of which have offices based in Managua along with other smaller newspapers. El Nuevo Diario is a Nicaraguan newspaper with offices in the capital Managua. La Prensa is a Nicaraguan Newspaper, with offices in the capital Managua. There are numerous radio stations in Managua, some of which tend to have political, social, or religious affiliations.

Hospitals

The best hospitals in Managua are private since they have newer facilities, equipment, and access to international insurance companies. Emergency services are faster than the public hospitals and the costs are much lower than in the USA (example: emergency consultation is typically US$25 and a private room is U. S. $98 a day). The newest of all privates is Hospital Metropolitano Vivian Pellas located at km 10, Carretera Masaya which has a private ambulance service. Other privates are Hospital Salud Integral, Hospital Militar Aleman which is for both private and military personnel, and Hospital Bautista (Baptist Hospital). Public hospitals have come to specialize in certain types of care, maternity, children, skin care, etc.

Transportation

Transportation-wise, Managua is one of Nicaragua's best positioned cities. All of Nicaragua's main roads lead to Managua, and there are good public transportation connections to and from the capital. There are four main highways that lead into Managua. The Pan-American Highway enters the city from the north, connecting Managua to Nicaragua's northern and central departments. The Pan-American Highway (see below for its name in other Western European languages is a network of Roads nearly 48000 kilometres (29800 miles in This highway is referred to as the Northern Highway. The Southern Highway, the southern part of the Pan-American highway, connects Managua to southern departments such as Carazo and Rivas. The Carretera Masaya connects Managua to the departments of Masaya and Granada. And the New Highway to León connects Managua with León. All of these highways are in good condition, with little traffic congestion. Infrastructure is very-well developed in Nicaragua compared to other Central American countries and there are few unnavigable roads or streets. There are very few towns or cities that have road leading to them that do not have different levels of public transportation. In fact, most buses are continually full even in the smallest of villages.

Within Managua, those who commute to and from work generally travel by bus or taxi; as of yet there are no suburban trains, trams or monorails in Managua. A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of Public transport for a single passenger or small group of passengers typically for a non-shared ride Recently, with the assistance of the Japanese government, Managua has commenced operating new modern Mercedes-Benz buses on several bus routes with the intention of modernizing the city's transport system. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Mercedes-Benz Buses has been making Buses since 1895 in Mannheim in Germany. ^[51] Typical Nicaraguan buses are older school buses from the United States. A school bus is a Bus used to transport Children and Adolescents to and from School and school events Additionally some buses are painted with religious artwork of Catholic saints. Managua has several bus terminals for inter-departmental travel, most of them located close to markets. Buses that arrive from or depart to a certain destination can often only be found at one specific terminal. Travelers who pass through Managua on their way from one city to another might need to transfer to another terminal within Managua. Nicaragua had an extensive and functional rail system. It fell into disrepair during the 1980s and the Chamorro government closed the system and sold the cars and rails for scrap.

The Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (formally Managua International Airport) is the largest and only international airport of Nicaragua. Augusto C Sandino International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Augusto C It recently inaugurated its over US$52 million extensions and renovation partly financed by Spain. ^[53] The airport has now been converted into the most modern airport of Central America. In Nicaragua, it is the most important hub for connections at both domestic and international levels. Frequent flights to local destinations like Bluefields, the Corn Islands and San Carlos also depart from this same location. Bluefields is the capital of the Municipality of the same name and of R The Corn Islands (Las Islas del Maíz are two Islands about 70 km east off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, constituting one of 12 municipalities of the San Carlos is the capital city of the Municipality of San Carlos and of the Río San Juan Department of Nicaragua. The airport is located at the northern highway, about 11 kilometers (8 miles) east of the city's downtown. Hotels, restaurants, and commercial centers can all be easily reached from the airport by car, taxi, or bus. There are a total of 10 airlines that operate flights to and from the airport. A setback occurred when Air Madrid filed for bankruptcy, ending the possibility of transatlantic flights to the Spanish capital; the company has also shown interest in building a hangar for regional maintenance of its aircraft and those of other airlines. ^[54]

Sister Cities

Managua has nineteen sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

Amsterdam (The Netherlands) Caracas (Venezuela) Guatemala City (Guatemala) Madison, Wisconsin (USA) Madrid (Spain) Manchester (United Kingdom) Miami (USA) Montélimar (France) Panama City (Panama)

Quito (Ecuador) Rans (France) Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Santiago de Chile (Chile) San José (Costa Rica) San Pedro Sula (Honduras) San Salvador (El Salvador) Taipei (Taiwan) Valencia (Spain)

References

External links

• Managua travel guide from Wikitravel
• La Voz del Sandinismo Noticias actualizadas de Nicaragua y el Mundo. Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide.
• Managua.gob.ni Alcaldía de Managua (Spanish)
• Map of Managua city
• Managua photos, attractions, municipalities, hotels, etc.

• Managua is at coordinates 12°08′12″N 86°15′05″W / 12.1366, -86.2514 (Managua)Coordinates: 12°08′12″N 86°15′05″W / 12.1366, -86.2514 (Managua)

A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org