Nicaragua » Managua

Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua. It is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua. The city was declared as the national capital of Nicaragua in 1857. The city has a population of about 1,680,100 composed predominantly of Spanish-speaking population.The name Managua originates from Mana-ahuac, which translates to "adjacent to the water" or site "surrounded by water." The city stands today on an area historically inhabited by Native American peoples centuries prior to the Spanish conquest of Central America in the 16th century.

Managua, due to its tropical climate, varied topography, naturally fertile soils, and abundant rain and water sources, boasts a great variety of flora. Therefore, many different types of trees (some of them not found in the rest of the world, such as chilamates, madronos, ceibos, pochotes, genizaros, tiguilotes, royal palms and pinuelas) surround the city. During the rainy season (May to November), Managua becomes one of the most lavish cities in the Americas.