Nicaragua

Nicaragua is extremely diverse in its landscape. It is home to Central America's largest lake, Lake Nicaragua which faces a looming pollution problem, and is a part of the Ring of Fire. 90% of Nicaragua's population lives near the South Pacific coast. Across Nicaragua, there are many beautiful colonial cities, like Grenada, complete with churches and low-rise buildings, underscoring the distinct architecture the Spanish introduced to Central America. The harsh reality for many Nicaraguans is low paychecks and low standards of living. They are the second poorest country per capita in the Americas and 40% of Nicaraguans make less than one USD per day, but despite that, Nicaragua has a fairly low crime rate. Electricity production is low with inadequate infrastructure, so oil and gas are often used for powering homes. Nicaragua's fauna is made up of Jaguars, birds like the Toucan, and monkeys. The national dish of Nicaragua is gallo pinto, which is composed of fried rice and black beans. Indio viejo, a yellow chicken stew, is another widespread delicacy. Nicaragua's demographics are 70% Mestizo, 15% White, and 10% Black. Emigration is common to countries such as the USA or nearby Costa Rica. The largest Black community in Central America, mostly a part of the Garifuna, inhabits the east coast of Nicaragua, speaking English Creole as their first language. They are known for their annual Maypole celebration with pole-centric rituals and unique music and dance. Indigenous peoples on the other hand, made up of roughly 20 tribes, are mostly of Mayan and Aztec heritage and communicate in their own unique languages. 60% of Nicaraguans are Catholic, with the Church playing a significant role in domestic disputes and everyday practices. Traditional dress in Nicaragua consists of traditional baggy Spanish clothes and a straw hat as well as colorful indigenous clothing with busy pattern-work and large hats. This is known as the Mestizaje Costume. Nicaragua is the epicenter of Latin American folklore, serving as the birthplace of many poets and frightening prose. This literary tradition is epitomized by El Güegüense, where folkloric stories are reenacted during parades, falling on the festival of St. Sebastian. Baseball is more popular than soccer in Nicaragua, a rare phenomenon in Latin America. There have been a handful of Nicaraguans, like Dennis Martinez, who found success in the MLB.