Nicaragua is one of the green hearts of Central America where you can listen to the world's oldest rain forest at night, sample the local fruit or simply take a stroll by the huge fresh water lakes. It is an absolute tourism paradise with both Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea coastline to cherish. Nicaragua, the largest nation in the Central American region displays three distinct terrain features. The Pacific Lowlands on the west are dominated by impressive beaches and several volcanic eruption points. The mountainous North-Central region is ecologically diverse with massive cloud forests, coffee plantations and several species of plants and birds. The Atlantic Lowlands to the east are an extension of the dense Amazon tropical forests. The Lake Nicaragua of this country is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the world.
Derived from the name of the chief of leading Indian tribe in the area, Nicarao, the country was first settled by the Spanish in 1522. Nicaragua emerged as a completely sovereign republic in 1838. It was the first country in the world to ratify the UN Charter. It is also one of the few countries in the world where a matriarchal society decides the order of the day.