Capital: Managua.
Official Language: Spanish.
Area: 50,193 sq. mi. (130,000 sq. km). Greatest
distances--north-south, 293 mi. (472 km); east-west, 297 mi. (478
km). Coastlines--Pacific, 215 mi. (346 km); Caribbean, 297 mi.
(478 km).
Elevation: Highest--Pico Mogoton, 6,913 ft. (2,107 m) above sea
level. Lowest--sea level along the coasts.
Population: Estimated 1996 population--4,569,000; density, 91 persons
per sq. mi. (35 per sq. km); distribution, 63 percent urban, 37
percent rural. 1971 census--1,877,952. Estimated 2001
population--5,313,000.
Chief Products: Agriculture--coffee, cotton, corn, beef cattle, sugar
cane, bananas, rice, beans. Manufacturing--food and beverage
products, clothing and textiles.
National Holiday: Independence Day, September 15.
Money: Basic unit--gold cordoba. For its price in U.S. dollars, see
MONEY (Table: Exchange Rates).
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