Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. Honduras borders it to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The Pacific Ocean connects the west of the country, and the Caribbean Sea borders the east. There have been hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions in Nicaragua. Since ancient times, this region has been inhabited by indigenous cultures. During the 16th century, the Spanish Empire conquered the region. In 1821, Nicaragua gained independence from Spain. In the 17th century, the Mosquito Coast was colonized by the English and later came under British rule. It became an autonomous territory of Nicaragua in 1860, and Honduras annexed its northernmost part in 1960. Since its independence, Nicaragua has experienced periods of political unrest, dictatorship, occupation, and fiscal crisis, including the Nicaraguan Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s and the Contra War of the 1980s.
As a result of the mixture of cultural traditions, there has been a great deal of diversity in Nicaragua’s folklore, cuisine, music, and literature. It is also known as “the land of lakes and volcanoes,” is also home to the Bosawás Biosphere Reserve, the second-largest rainforest in North America. Nicaragua is a popular destination for tourists because of its natural diversity, tropical climate, and active volcanoes.
Nicaragua is primarily an agricultural country; agriculture accounts for 60% of its total exports, yielding approximately $300 million each year. Most coffee grown in the country comes from the northern highlands, north and east of Estelí. Since the 1990s, tobacco, developed in the same northern highlands’ region as coffee, has become an increasingly important cash crop, with leaf and cigar exports approaching $200 million each year. Nicaragua’s mining industry is also growing and contributing around 1% of the country’s GDP. Lumbering is restricted due to increased environmental concerns about the destruction of rainforests. Timber harvesting continues despite these obstacles; in fact, a single hardwood tree is worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Here are some fascinating photographs that show everyday life of Nicaragua in the 1970s.
