23 Lake Nicaragua Facts: A Freshwater Place To Visit!

Any itinerary in Nicaragua is incomplete without a visit to the freshwater lake Nicaragua. 

This vast lake can make people believe that they are looking at the sea! Lake Nicaragua is a natural wonder of a tectonic valley and covers 3190.7 sq mi (8264 sq km). 

Nicaragua has two of the largest lakes in Central America: Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. However, Lake Nicaragua is unique because it is a freshwater lake, yet many oceanic fish and animal life can be found here.

You can find swordfish, tarpon, and even bull sharks in the lake. It has been a mystery to the scientists to find these bull sharks in the lake. There are several theories about this amazing fact.

Though it may seem dangerous, it is also possible to swim in the cool waters of the beautiful lake without worrying about sharks like the bull sharks. Keep reading to find more interesting information about Lake Nicaragua.

Lago de Nicaragua, Spanish for Lake Nicaragua, is a prominent physical feature located in Nicaragua. It is believed that it was initially part of an ocean bay, but it turned into an inland basin due to the eruption of a volcano.

Ometepe Island was also formed due to volcanic activity. The oceanic fish trapped into this oval lake slowly turned into freshwater creatures from saltwater. The indigenous names of the lake are Cocibolca and Mar Dulce in Spanish, both of which mean 'sweet sea.'

Animal Life In Lake Nicaragua

Lake Nicaragua boasts various animal species, including mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Every island in this lake has a large variety of creatures. These include sea turtles, iguanas, boa constrictors, alligators, several types of monkeys, cats, and, not to forget, bull sharks. 

The unpredictable bull shark is one of the most dangerous species in the world's oceans for humans. Though bull sharks are present in shallow waters, they do not generally live in the most frequented areas by tourists. Baird's Tapirs are rare, and only lucky people can see them. Both freshwater and saltwater animal species can be found here. 

The lake waters surround more than 300 islands that came into existence due to volcanic activity, many of them inhabited. The largest island is Ometepe Island, but some islands are small and only have swaying palm trees and playful capuchin monkeys.

Bird watchers love taking a boat ride or kayaking around the islands to watch parrots, hawks, vultures, cormorants, and several other migratory birds present on the islands.

Connecting Rivers: Lake Nicaragua

Nicaragua has many lakes, rivers, and lagoons that add to the natural beauty and help in connecting different regions. Lake Nicaragua is huge, and almost 40 rivers drain into it. 

The Lake drains into the Caribbean Sea but with the help of a river. The largest among them is the Tipitapa River which connects Lake Nicaragua to Lake Managua. It is believed that both these lakes were part of the same ocean bay, but due to volcanic eruptions, they turned into two lakes. 

At some points, Lake Nicaragua is only 12 mi (19 km) from the Pacific Ocean, and it is connected to saltwater only through the San Juan River. The river runs from the south-eastern shore through dense forests and falls into the Caribbean Sea.

The San Juan River is also known as Desaguardero, and Rio San Juan is the outlet for Lake Nicaragua. San Juan River flows from the south-eastern end of the lake, carries on along the Costa-Rican and Nicaraguan border, and finally merges into the Caribbean Sea.

From 1820, when the Spanish rule ended, many plans were made to build a canal running from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean through Lake Nicaragua. Recently, this Atlantic canal idea has been taken up again, but it would take a long time to come to fruition. 

Sustainable Development

There has been considerable concern about water and ecology in general of Lake Nicaragua. Over the years, several studies have been conducted to assess the damage and see that only sustainable development occurs. 

Earlier, vast amounts of raw sewage were released daily, making most of the water highly polluted. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has been studying water samples and monitoring the different animal species, including sharks, to understand the effects of pollution.

At the same time, more and more tourists and even local people are encroaching on the forest lands.

Factories and industries located along the lake's shores are the biggest culprits. The economic situation of Nicaragua is not very good, and therefore building sewage treatment and sanitation facilities is slow.

Moreover, the drought in 2014 affected the lake adversely. The government even had to recommend that the citizens start eating iguanas instead of chicken to reduce water consumption. Sustainable development is the only way to move forward and keep the mar dulce in good condition.

Lake Nicaragua or the sweet sea is a unique feature, and it is essential to keep it that way. Nicaragua is a developing country with limited resources. Maintaining the proper equilibrium between people and animal species is difficult but possible with the help and support of all parties involved. 

Tourism Business: Lake Nicaragua

Natural beauty and its biodiversity attract many tourists to Nicaragua. It is not on the usual world tourist maps but offers several adventurous and touristy scenic options.

Lake Nicaragua is well known as the largest lake and the only freshwater lake on the Earth to have bull sharks. Ometepe is the largest lake volcanic island in Nicaragua and is also among the natural wonders of the world.

It has two volcanoes, Concepcion and Maderas.

The Lake, its islands, and Granada islets are full of cloud forests, jungles, and volcanoes, offering plenty of action for the outdoor adventure seeker. Hikes to the craters, wildlife explorations, or just boating on the lake's calm waters, tourists will find various options.

The Lake has always been an important link for inland Nicaragua and the Caribbean Sea. The city Granada, which is on the north-western shore, was the first colonial city established by the Spanish conquerors in 1524.

Since then, Nicaragua Lake has seen tourists coming and enjoying its splendor. The government wants tourists to come to their country and visit Lake Nicaragua because tourists bring money and boost the economy.

At the same time, the government also wants to protect the pristine forests, the lakeside towns, and the various species of animals living here. It is a delicate and tricky balance to maintain and requires much effort from both sides.

From the time and how it was formed, Lake Nicaragua remains unique. It is full of amazing and surprising things like the sharks, which add to its attractiveness.