Nicaragua
Nicaragua names 2 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below. 1 of them is described by more than one encyclopedia.
Nicaragua a republic of Central America
Described by 2 of the 6 encyclopedias.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a republic of Central America; reaching from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific, between Costa Rica on the S. and Honduras on the N., the E. (Caribbean) coast measuring 290 miles and the W. coast 185 miles; area, 49,200 square miles; pop. about 420,000, including 40,000 uncivilized Indians. Topography. The Central American Cordilleras form the backbone of the country; they run N. W. and S. E. at a distance of 12 to 30 miles from the Pacific, and attain elevations of 4,000 and 5,000 feet above sea-level. On the W. the surface sinks rapidly to a longitudinal depression (110 feet), the S. two-thirds of which are filled by the large lakes of Nicaragua (115 miles long, 45 broad, and 140 feet deep in most parts) and Managua (35 miles long, 20 broad, 30 feet deep), the latter lying N. of the former and 25 feet higher. This depression is studded with a chain of volcanic cones, standing on islands in the lakes (Ometepec and Madera, 4,190 feet), and clustering thickly between the N. end of Lake Managua and the Gulf of Fonseca at the N. W. extremity of the country, as Coseguina (3,835 feet, which was the scene of a tremendous outbreak, lasting over four days, in 1835), Viejo (6,267), Telica (4,200), Momotombo (6,890), Mombacho (4,600), and several others. Though most of these are quiescent, some of them burst forth in eruption from time to time; Ometepec poured out its lavas during seven days in 1883. Another low range separates this depression from the Pacific. The districts W. of the central backbone are the chief seats of the population. There stand the towns Managua (the capital), Leon, Granada, Chinandega, Rivas. On the W. coast there are three harbors-the Gulf of Fonseca in the N., Salinas Bay in the S., and the port of Corinto toward the N. The only port on the E. side is Greytown, at the mouth of the San Juan river. E. of the Cordilleras the surface falls away gradually; the spurs that break off from the main ridge sink into the low alluvial plains that face 4 the Caribbean Sea. Thick forests clothe extensive areas on this side. Several rivers carry off the surplus water E., a few being of good length, such as the Coco or Wanks ( 350 miles long), which serves as the conventional N. boundary; the San Juan (125 miles), which drains Lake Nicaragua and separates the State of Nicaragua from Costa Rica on the S.; the Bluefields and the Rio Grande (230 miles). The low coast-belt, called the Mosquito Territory , is lined with salt lagoons-Pearl lagoon having an area of 200 square miles, and Bluefields lagoon half as much. Mineralogy. The mountain-spurs E. of the main chain are rich in minerals; gold is mined in the neighborhood of Libertad on to Matagalpa, in the heart of the country, and silver near the sources of the Coco in the N.; coal, copper, tin, iron , lead, zinc, antimony, quicksilver , marble, etc., exist, but are not worked. Climate. As a rule the climate varies between 70° and 90° F., and there is a dry season lasting from about December to May. Soil. The natural products of the soil are tropical. The forest trees include mahogany, rosewood , logwood, fustic, sandalwood , india-rubber, and numerous others that yield fancy woods, medicinal plants, gums and dyewoods. Large herds of cattle are bred and reared on the extensive plains of the center and E. The rich soil of the cultivated W. region yields maize (the staple food of the people), coffee, cocoa, sugar, cotton, rice, tobacco, indigo, and a great variety of tropical fruits . Commerce. The foreign trade in 1918 amounted to $13,684,743 . The imports amounted to $5,929,803 and the exports to $7,754,940 . The chief part of the exports were sent to the United States. The principal articles of export were coffee and cabinet woods. A considerable amount of sugar was also exported. The principal imports were cotton goods, clothing, and manufactures of iron and steel. Religion. The state religion is the Roman Catholic, but all creeds are tolerated. Education. The educational standard is low, in spite of three universities (socalled), at Managua , Leone, and Granada. There are about 350 elementary schools. Government. The country is governed by a president (elected for four years), a legislative assembly of 40 members, and a senate of 13; both of these bodies are selected by the people, the former for four, the latter for six years. Railroads and Finance. - There are about 150 miles of railway, connecting the chief towns with Corinto . There are several lines of railway. A new line was under construction in 1919 between the Bambana and the Ocongtuas rivers, with a total length of 75 miles. Forty miles have been constructed during the year. The total debt in 1918 was about $6,000,000. History. Nicaragua, like the republic N. of it, was a center of Aztec civilization; the Aztecs were preceded by another race, likewise civilized, who have left stone sculptures and monumental remains. The Aztec influence survives in archæological ruins and relics and in the Indian dialects. Columbus sailed along the Mosquito coast in 1502. Twenty years later the country was overrun by the Spaniards under Gil Gonzales D'Avila, and in 1524 the city of Granada was founded. This town soon developed as the head of a stream of commerce that flowed up and down the San Juan river. In 1610 was founded Leon, the democratic rival of the aristocratic Granada. During the Spanish supremacy (after 1550) Nicaragua was a province of Guatemala . In 1821 it asserted its independence, and two years later joined the federation of the Central American states, a connection that lasted 16 years . The history of the country after the severance from Spain till 1865 is a record of war and dissension, war with Costa Rica, with Guatemala, and with Great Britain (1848), which had as- This region was serted a protectorate over the Mosquito Coast since 1655 . given up to Nicaragua in 1860. Between 1855 and 1860 the aristocratic and the democratic party were fighting, the latter being assisted by the adventurer William Walker . Since then Nicaragua has made laudable efforts to develop her resources and to advance along the path of civilization, and she now compares most favorably with her sister republics in Central America . A bill providing for the construction of a canal across Nicaragua connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was adopted in the United States Senate, Jan. 21, 1899. It provided that the canal should be completed in six years; should be capable of accommodating the largest ocean steamers ; and should cost not over $115,000,000 . The bill also guaranteed the neutrality of the canal. Politically, the most important provision of the bill was the authority it gave to the President to open negotiations with Great Britain for the abrogation of the Clayton- Bulwer treaty. Under this last provision a convention was signed in Washington, Feb. 5, 1900, by Secretary Hay, representing the United States, and Lord Pauncefote, representing Great Britain, in which that provision of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty providing for a joint control of any canal across the isthmus was annulled. This convention was ratified by the United States Senate, Dec. 20, 1900, but it failed to meet the approval of the British Government owing to amendments made by the United States Senate. On Nov. 18, 1901, a second convention was signed in Washington by Secretary Hay and Lord Pauncefote; was submitted to the United States Senate for ratification Dec. 4, and was ratified by a vote of 72 to 6 on the 16th following.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
ne-ka-ra'gwa, a republic of Central America . It is about the size of Pennsylvania. It extends from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. It lies within the tropics. The surface is covered for the greater part with low ranges but is crossed by the lowest pass between Alaska and Tierra del Fuego . Lake Nicaragua, a sheet of water 100 miles long, thirty to forty miles wide, and from fifty to 200 feet deep, lies twelve miles from the Pacific coast. Its surface is 110 feet above sea level. It discharges its waters through the San Juan River into the Caribbean. This lake and river form the route of the once proposed Nicaragua interoceanic canal. A chain of active or dormant volcanoes follows the western coast. In spite of the danger from eruptions the chief cities of the republic are in this region. There are five cities having from 20,000 to 45,000 inhabitants. The cathedral of Leon, the old capital city, is one of the great buildings of Spanish-America. It would cost $20,000,000 if erected today. Thirteen volcanoes may be seen from its roof. Managua, the capital, has 40,000 people. Nicaragua is rich in mineral and forest resources. Gold, silver, copper, iron, mercury, salt, sulphur, tin, nickel, and zinc are found in greater or less quantities. The forests yield mahogany, rosewood, ebony, cedar, Brazil wood, and other valuable timbers. The natives market vanilla, sarsaparilla, ipecac, wax, balsam, and rhubarb. Plantations of rubber trees, bananas, and coffee yield large returns. The seasons are such that two crops of cotton, three crops of indigo, and four of corn may be raised each year. Tobacco and aguardiente, or spirits, are government monopolies. Corinto is the chief port on the Pacific coast. Bluefields is the chief port on the eastern shore. It is 1,156 miles from New Orleans . Steamers ply regularly between Nicaraguan ports and Galveston, New Orleans, and Mobile, with cargoes of bananas, coffee, rubber, hides, mahogany, ores, and herbs, and return with miscellaneous cargoes of such merchandise as may find sale in general stores. Crockery, tools, implements, furniture, machinery, clothing, and canned goods are conspicuous. The sales of United States goods to Nicaragua are about $2,000,000 a year. Exports, $7,000,000. The population is over half a million. The people are chiefly of Indian descent. The Spanish element, though small numerically, is predominant. The banana handlers and plantation hands of the eastern coast are negroes. Nicaragua has a president, a cabinet with five ministers or secretaries, thirteen departments or states, and five divisions like our territories. Its National Assembly consists of only one chamber. A system of academies or colleges in the cities and two universities serve the needs of the Spanish citizens. Popular education has not been undertaken seriously. The country has been independent virtually since 1824. In 1856 William Walker of Tennessee and fifty-six associates, emigrants, subverted the authorities and set up a dictatorship. His government was recognized by the United States but he was soon driven out. On renewing the attempt he was captured and shot. There is one railroad in Nicaragua which starts at Corinto and runs to Managua and thence across to Granada on Lake Nicaragua, which is the largest inland body of water in all Latin America . If one wishes to go to Nicaragua he can take steamer on the Atlantic side from New York, New Orleans, or Mobile. Going by the Pacific he will take steamer from San Francisco or from coast points of other countries. Perhaps the quickest way to reach it today is either through Mexico by rail and by steamer from Salina Cruz to Corinto, or by steamer from New Orleans direct to Bluefields. The latter journey generally takes about four days. If, however, one lands on the east coast, it is practically impossible to get to the west coast on account of the lack of railroad and other facilities. A common way to go to the west coast is via Panama and the Pacific side.
Nicaragua LAKE OF, an extensive sheet of water in the republic of the same name
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
LAKE OF, an extensive sheet of water in the republic of the same name; area, about 3,000 square miles; depth, 10 to 260 feet; length, 110 miles N. W. to S. E.; greatest breadth, 40 miles; mean breadth, 30 miles; 110 feet above the Pacific, from which it is separated by a strip of land 12 miles wide. The San Juan de Nicaragua river flows from its S. E. extremity into the Caribbean Sea, and at its N. W. extremity it is connected with the smaller Lake of Managua or Leon by the Tipitapa river. Steamers ply on it, as it forms a link in the traffic route across the isthmus of Central America. There are hundreds of islands, the largest, Ometepe, having two active volcanoes.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Collier's put the population at "about 420,000" in 1921 and Managua at the head of a country with 150 miles of railway; Nicaragua now has roughly 6.8 million people, and the capital Collier's described was flattened twice by earthquakes, in 1931 and again in December 1972. The political history the entry breaks off in mid-sentence continued violently: US Marines occupied the country until 1933, the Somoza family ruled from 1936 to 1979, the Sandinista revolution then brought a decade of civil war against the US-backed Contras, and Daniel Ortega has held the presidency continuously since 2007 amid widely criticised elections and the crushing of the 2018 protests. The interoceanic canal through Lake Nicaragua, long the country's great hope, was never dug efore ", and a Chinese-backed revival announced in 2013 collapsed without construction. The physical geography u the volcanic chain, the two great lakes, the forested Caribbean lowlands u is still described much as Collier's had it, though the Mosquito Coast is now the autonomous regions of the Caribbean coast rather than a "Mosquito Territory."
Written for this edition, 2026.